EMR4: cDNA Clones

EMR4 cDNA encodes a predicted 689-amino acid protein containing two epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like modules, a mucin-like spacer domain, and a seven-transmembrane domain with a cytoplasmic tail. EMR4 was found to undergo proteolytic processing within the extracellular stalk region resulting in two protein subunits associated noncovalently as a heterodimer. It is predominantly expressed on resident macrophages. However, a much lower expression level was also detected in thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal neutrophils and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. EMR4 is the first EGF-TM7 receptor known to mediate the cellular interaction between myeloid cells and B-cells.