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Description

T-cell differentiation antigen CD6 (UniProt: P30203, also known as T12, TP120, CD6) is encoded by the CD6 gene (Gene ID: 923) in human. CD6 is a single-pass type I membrane protein that serves as a cell adhesion molecule that mediates cell-cell contacts and regulates T-cell responses via its interaction with ALCAM/CD166. It contributes to signaling cascades triggered by activation of the TCR/CD3 complex and functions as a costimulatory molecule to promote T-cell activation and proliferation. It is also involved in the formation and maturation of the immunological synapse. CD6 has been detected on peripheral blood T-cells and on natural killer (NK) cells and is also detected in spleen, thymus, appendix, lymph nodes. CD6 is known to bind both lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria and lipoteichoic acid from Gram-positive bacteria and LPS binding leads to the activation of signaling cascades and down-stream MAP kinases. It is synthesized with a signal peptide (aa 1-17), which is subsequently cleaved off in the mature form. It has an extracellular domain (aa 18-402), a transmembrane domain (aa 403-423), and a cytoplasmic domain (aa 424-668). Seven isoforms of CD6 have been reported that are produced by alternative splicing.