Alternative Names: |
35 kDa lectin, CBP 35, CBP35, Gal 3, GAL3, Galactose specific lectin 3, Galactoside binding protein, GALBP, Galectin 3, Galectin-3, GALIG, IgE binding protein, L 31, Laminin binding protein, Lectin L 29, LGALS2, LGALS3, Mac 2 antigen, MAC2 |
Background: |
Galectin 3 is one of the more extensively studied members of this family and is a 30 kDa protein. Due to a C-terminal carbohydrate binding site, Galectin 3 is capable of binding IgE and mammalian cell surfaces only when homodimerized or homooligomerized. Galectin 3 is normally distributed in epithelia of many organs, in various inflammatory cells, including macrophages, as well as dendritic cells and Kupffer cells. The expression of this lectin is up-regulated during inflammation, cell proliferation, cell differentiation and through trans-activation by viral proteins. |