Galectin-4 (K83) polyclonal antibody

Galectins are a family of soluble β-galactoside-binding animal lectins that modulate cell-to-cell adhesion and cell-to-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions and play a role in tumor progression, pre-mRNA splicing and apoptosis. One member of this family, Galectin-4, also known as Gal-4, L36 or LGALS4 maps to human chromosome 19q13.13 and encodes a 36-37 kDa protein. The Galectin-4 protein is composed of 323 amino acids and contains two homologous carbohydrate recognition domains (CRD) and all amino acids typically conserved in the galectin family. Expression of Galectin-4 correlates with the malignant potential of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is differentially regulated depending on cell-cell contact, serum growth factors, cell growth and cell differentiation status. Galectin-4 expression is detected in epithelial cells of the colon, rectum, intestine, and in HT29 and LS174T cell lines. Galectin-4 is underexpressed in colorectal cancer and is preferentially upregulated in cells prone to peritoneal dissemination.