Galectin-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LGALS3 gene. Galectin-3 is a member of the lectin family, of which 14 mammalian galectins have been identified. Galectin-3 is approximately 30 kDa and, like all galectins, contains a carbohydrate-recognition-binding domain (CRD) of about 130 amino acids that enable the specific binding of β-galactosides. Galectin-3 has an affinity for beta-galactosides and exhibits antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. This protein has been shown to be involved in the following biological processes: cell adhesion, cell activation and chemoattraction, cell growth and differentiation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Given galectin-3's broad biological functionality, it has been demonstrated to be involved in cancer, inflammation and fibrosis, heart disease, and stroke. Studies have also shown that the expression of galectin-3 is implicated in a variety of processes associated with heart failure, including myofibroblast proliferation, fibrogenesis, tissue repair, inflammation, and ventricular remodeling. Galectin-3 associates with the primary cilium and modulates renal cyst growth in congenital polycystic kidney disease. Here you have a crystal structure of human Galectin-3 in complex with N-acetyllactosamine (PDB code: 1KJL)
#molecularart ... #immolecular ... #lectin ... #galectin3 ... #carbohydrate ... #binding ... #domain ... #xray
Structure of human galectin-3 rendered with @proteinimaging and depicted with @corelphotopaint. Inspiration by @kati__pavlova
#molecularart ... #immolecular ... #lectin ... #galectin3 ... #carbohydrate ... #binding ... #domain ... #xray
Structure of human galectin-3 rendered with @proteinimaging and depicted with @corelphotopaint. Inspiration by @kati__pavlova
