protein_function: Putative adhesion molecule that mediates sialic-aciddependent binding to cells. Binds equally to alpha-2,3-linked andalpha-2,6-linked sialic acid. The sialic acid recognition site maybe masked by cis interactions with sialic acids on the same cellsurface.
Sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin 5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SIGLEC5 gene. This gene encodes a member of the sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin (Siglec) family. These cell surface lectins are characterized by structural motifs in the immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains and sialic acid recognition sites in the first Ig V set domain. The encoded protein is a member of the CD33-related subset of Siglecs and inhibits the activation of several cell types including monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils. Binding of group B Streptococcus (GBS) to the encoded protein plays a role in GBS immune evasion.