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[Galectins, a class of unconventional lectins]
Tamara Advedissian1, Frédérique Deshayes1, Françoise Poirier1
1Institut Jacques Monod, UMR 7592 CNRS, université Paris-Diderot, équipe morphogenèse, homéostasie et pathologies, 15, rue Hélène Brion, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France.
Medecine Sciences : M/S
|June 11, 2015
Summary
Galectins are versatile proteins involved in numerous cellular functions and interactions. Despite viable knockout mice, galectins (1, 3, and 7) show defects under stress, highlighting their therapeutic potential in cancer and inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Galectins are conserved animal lectins binding beta-galactosides.
- They exhibit diverse spatio-temporal distribution, ligands, and molecular partners.
- Galectins function intracellularly and extracellularly, modulating cellular processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the multifaceted roles of galectins in cellular functions.
- To highlight the impact of galectin deficiency under stress conditions.
- To underscore galectins as potential therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on galectin functions.
- Analysis of knockout mouse models for galectins-1, 3, and 7.
- Examination of galectin involvement in cellular signaling and trafficking.
Main Results:
- Galectin knockout mice (1, 3, 7) are viable but exhibit stress-related defects.
- Galectins are implicated in cell-cell/matrix interactions, membrane organization, signaling, and intracellular trafficking.
- These proteins play roles in apoptosis and cell cycle regulation.
Conclusions:
- Galectins are multifunctional proteins critical for cellular homeostasis.
- Their roles in various cellular processes suggest significant therapeutic implications.
- Galectins are promising targets for treating cancer and inflammatory diseases.
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