The galectins belong to a family of related beta-galactoside-binding lectins, also referred to as S-type or S-Lac lectins.
Members of this family have been implicated in a variety of functions that include growth regulation, cell adhesion,
migration, neoplastic transformation, and immune responses.
NCBI Summary:
The galectins are a family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins implicated in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Differential and in situ hybridizations indicate that this lectin is specifically expressed in keratinocytes. It is expressed at all stages of epidermal differentiation (i.e., in basal and suprabasal layers). It is moderately repressed by retinoic acid. The protein was found mainly in stratified squamous epithelium. The antigen localized to basal keratinocytes, although it was also found, albeit at lower levels, in the suprabasal layers where it concentrated to areas of cell-to-cell contact. The cellular localization and its striking down-regulation in cultured keratinocytes imply a role in cell-cell and/or cell-matrix interactions necessary for normal growth control.
General function
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Cellular localization
Plasma membrane
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Ovarian function
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Expression regulated by
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Ovarian localization
Stromal cells
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Sato M, et al 2002 reported the quantification of galectin-7 and its localization in adult
mouse tissues.
The amounts of galectin-7 in tissues
were determined as follows: skin, 62 3 ng/mg; esophagus, 23 +/- 8 ng/mg;
stomach, 18 +/- 6 ng/mg; anus, 13 +/- 1 ng/mg; and tongue, 12 2 ng/mg. This
indicates that galectin-7 production coincides with the degree of
stratification of the epithelia. Interestingly, significant
amounts of galectin-7, 5.9 +/- 1.4 and 2.7 +/- 0.6 ng/mg, were detected in the trachea and
ovaries, respectively. Moreover, galectin-7 is localized in the
pseudostratified epithelium of the trachea and stromal. epithelium of the
ovaries by immunohistochemistry. Thus, galectin-7 protein might be produced
primarily in stratified epithelia, but also in some wet epithelia, and plays a
unique role in cell-mucus contact, or the growth of ovarian follicles.