title: Galectin-3 as a multifunctional protein.
abstract: Galectin-3 is a 31 kDa member of a growing family of beta-galactoside-binding animal lectins. This protein is expressed in a variety of tissues and cell types and is mainly found in the cytoplasm, although, depending on cell type and proliferative state, a significant amount of this lectin can also be detected in the nucleus, on the cell surface or in the extracellular environment. Galectin-3 is secreted from cells by a novel and incompletely understood mechanism that is independent of the classical secretory pathway through the endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi network. Galectin-3 exhibits pleiotropic biological function, playing a key role in many physiological and pathological processes.
authors.affiliation: University of Łódź, Department of Cytobiochemistry, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krześlak
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lipińska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry; D018450:Disease Progression; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011485:Protein Binding; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D037502:Galectin 3; D008024:Ligands