Galectin-3
Galectin-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LGALS3 gene. Galectin-3 is a member of the beta-galactoside-binding protein family, which plays a role in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. This protein is involved in various biological functions, including apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and cell cycle regulation.
Structure[edit | edit source]
Galectin-3 is a monomer in solution, but can polymerize into multivalent complexes on the cell surface or extracellular matrix. The protein is composed of three structural domains: a short non-lectin segment, which is involved in oligomerization; a collagen-like domain, which participates in self-association and receptor clustering; and a carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD), which mediates binding to galactose-containing glycoconjugates.
Function[edit | edit source]
Galectin-3 is involved in various biological functions. It plays a role in inflammation and immune response, by regulating cell growth and proliferation, and by modulating cytokine production. Galectin-3 also participates in cell adhesion, cell migration, and angiogenesis. In addition, it is involved in tumor progression and metastasis, by promoting cell survival, proliferation, and angiogenesis.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Elevated levels of galectin-3 have been associated with various types of cancer, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer. It has been suggested that galectin-3 may serve as a potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Moreover, galectin-3 has been implicated in heart failure, fibrosis, and inflammatory diseases, and may serve as a therapeutic target for these conditions.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD