Burn control, an adipocyte-specific function for galectin-12

摘要

Families of molecules often have similar functions-think of kina-ses, transcription factors, chemo-kines, or Toll-like receptors. The galectins, an evolutionarily ancient family of carbohydrate binding proteins found in organisms from multicellular fungi to humans, are different (1, 2). Galectins are a family of lectins; the family designation is based on highly conserved structural features, particularly the conserved carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs) that define the proteins as lectins. In contrast, the pleiotropic functions of galectins do not seem to be conserved. Based on the cell type investigated, galectins have been reported to regulate cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, differentiation, survival, and death, and they also positively and negatively regulate host defense against microbial pathogens.