Selectins

Selectins (also selectins ) are glycoproteins in the plasma membranes of certain eukaryotic cells. They belong to the group of lectins , which are cell adhesion molecules ( CAMs , Cell Adhesion Molecules ).

Types

Three types of selectins are known: E-selectin , P-selectin and L-selectin . They differ in their amino acid structure , the binding ligands , and are in different cells expressed . E-selectin is found in the plasma membranes of endothelial cells , P-selectin is expressed both by endothelial cells and by blood platelets (thrombocytes) and L-selectin is produced by all white blood cells (leukocytes).

Functions

The selectins are heterophilic cell adhesion molecules, which means that they form connections with neighboring cells via other proteins that do not belong to the selectins.

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• Gerald Karp: Molecular Cell Biology . Springer 2005, pp. 327-329. ISBN 3-540-23857-3