Galectin-4 Protein

Quality Statement:
Galectins are a family of carbohydrate-binding proteins with specificity for N-acetyl-lactosamine-containing glycoproteins.Galectin-4, a tandem-repeat-type lectin with affinity to sulfatide and nonsialylated termini of N-glycans, has the ability to regulate adhesion of cells to ECM components and is also involved in polarized membrane trafficking.Galectin-4 expression is concentrated within microvilli in the gastrointestinal epithelium, where it can interact with CD3 and bind activated T cells in the lamina propria during intestinal inflammation. Galectin-4 can also bind lung, spleen and kidney macrophages, although its expression is normally low in these tissues. Neurons and OLGs were identified as a possible source of galectin-4, both in vitro and in vivo. In culture, neurons but not OLGs released galectin-4. In co-cultures, a reduced release of endogenous galectin-4 correlated with the onset of myelination. Galectin-4-reactive sites are transiently expressed on processes of premyelinating primary OLGs, but not on neurons. Neuronal galactin-4 is a candidate for a soluble regulator of OLG differentiation and myelination.

Reference:
1、Yang R Y. et al. 2008 Galectins: structure, function and therapeutic potential. Expert Rev Mol Med. 10: e17.2、Ideo H. et al. 2007 Recognition mechanism of galectin-4 for cholesterol 3-sulfate. J Biol Chem. 282(29): 21081-21089.