Galectin-12, an Adipose-expressed Galectin-like Molecule Possessing Apoptosis-inducing Activity.
Galectins constitute a family of proteins that bind to beta-galactoside residues and have diverse physiological functions. Here we report on the identification of a galectin-like molecule, galectin-12, in a human adipose tissue cDNA library. The protein contained two potential carbohydrate-recognition domains with the second carbohydrate-recognition domain being less conserved compared with other galectins. In vitro translated galectin-12 bound to a lactosyl-agarose column far less efficiently than galectin-8. Galectin-12 mRNA was predominantly expressed in adipose tissue of human and mouse and in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Caloric restriction and treatment of obese animals with troglitazone increased galectin-12 mRNA levels and decreased the average size of the cells in adipose tissue. The induction of galectin-12 expression by the thiazolidinedione, troglitazone, was paralleled by an increase in the number of apoptotic cells in adipose tissue. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that galectin-12 was localized in the nucleus of adipocytes, and transfection with galectin-12 cDNA induced apoptosis of COS-1 cells. These results suggest that galectin-12, an adipose-expressed galectin-like molecule, may participate in the apoptosis of adipocytes.
Hotta
K
K
Department of Internal Medicine and Molecular Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Funahashi
T
T
Matsukawa
Y
Y
Takahashi
M
M
Nishizawa
H
H
Kishida
K
K
Matsuda
M
M
Kuriyama
H
H
Kihara
S
S
Nakamura
T
T
Tochino
Y
Y
Bodkin
N L
NL
Hansen
B C
BC
Matsuzawa
Y
Y
D016475:3T3 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D019556:COS Cells; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D005697:Galactosides / Q000378:metabolism; D037161:Galectins; D015723:Gene Library; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014162:Transfection
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005697:Galactosides; D037161:Galectins; D006388:Hemagglutinins; C473387:LGALS12 protein, human; C091991:LGALS8 protein, human; D037102:Lectins; C503649:Lgals12 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013844:Thiazoles; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; C089946:2,4-thiazolidinedione