The role of galectin-4 in physiology and diseases.
10.1007/s13238-016-0262-9
- Author:
Zhan-Qi CAO
1
;
Xiu-Li GUO
2
Author Information
1. Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 50012, China.
2. Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 50012, China. guoxl@sdu.edu.cn.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
crosslinker;
galectin-4;
intestinal inflammation;
lipid raft;
tumor progression
- MeSH:
Animals;
Axons;
metabolism;
Endocytosis;
Galectin 4;
blood;
genetics;
metabolism;
Humans;
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases;
metabolism;
pathology;
Membrane Microdomains;
metabolism;
Neoplasms;
metabolism;
pathology;
Neurons;
metabolism;
Wound Healing
- From:
Protein & Cell
2016;7(5):314-324
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Galectin-4, a tandem repeat member of the β-galactoside-binding proteins, possesses two carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRD) in a single peptide chain. This lectin is mostly expressed in epithelial cells of the intestinal tract and secreted to the extracellular. The two domains have 40% similarity in amino acid sequence, but distinctly binding to various ligands. Just because the two domains bind to different ligands simultaneously, galectin-4 can be a crosslinker and crucial regulator in a large number of biological processes. Recent evidence shows that galectin-4 plays an important role in lipid raft stabilization, protein apical trafficking, cell adhesion, wound healing, intestinal inflammation, tumor progression, etc. This article reviews the physiological and pathological features of galectin-4 and its important role in such processes.
