| Galectins, beta-galactosides binding lectins, represent a structurally defined family of currently 12 characterized and molecularly defined members. Galectin-4 represents a prototype molecule of monomer divalent members of Galectin subfamily. In these molecules two carbohydrate recognition domains (CRD) are connected via protease sensitive intersubunit bridging peptide. Galectins are expressed in many tumor cells and this suggests that they participate in tumorigenesis and metastasis. Human as well as mouse Galectin-4 is exclusively expressed in stomach, small intestine, colon, and rectum. Recombinant plasmids carrying modified Galectin-4 sequences were constructed in P. Malý group. In collaboration with P. Malý, the aim of our group is to overexpress recombinant mouse Galectin-4 in E.coli and purify it in amount and quality sufficient for subsequent crystallographic and biochemical studies. |
