Patent ID: 8058397

Claim:
An isolated LIR polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide comprising amino acids x 8 to 259 of SEQ ID NO:18, wherein x 8 is amino acid 1 or 17; b) the polypeptide of a), having one or more amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of Gly or Arg at residue 12: Leu or Val at residue 15; Gly or Asp at residue 16; His Arg or Cys at residue 20; Val or Met at residue 21; Ala or Thr at residue 23: His Pro or Thr at residue 25; Leu Ile or Phe at residue 26; Gly Asp or Ala at residue 28: Thr Ile Ser or Ala at residue 36: Gly or Val at residue 114: and Met or Ala at residue 117: c) a fragment of any of the LIR polypeptide of a) or b), wherein the fragment is capable of binding a ligand.