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Mammalian galectins: Structure, carbohydrate specificity, and functions

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Abstract

Galectins are a family of β-galactoside binding lectins, homological by a sequence of the carbohydrate-binding site. In this review literature data about structure and carbohydrate specificity of galectins are discussed. The role of galectins in the regulation of cell adhesion in immune response, inflammation, and cancer progression is considered.

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Abbreviations

CRD:

carbohydrate-recognition domain

LacNAc:

lactosamine

(LacNAc) n :

where n > 1) oligolactosamine

LNnT:

lactoneotetraose

Su:

sulfate

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  1. Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997, Moscow, Russia

    E. M. Rapoport, O. V. Kurmyshkina & N. V. Bovin

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  1. E. M. Rapoport
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  2. O. V. Kurmyshkina
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  3. N. V. Bovin
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Correspondence to N. V. Bovin.

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Original Russian Text © E. M. Rapoport, O. V. Kurmyshkina, N. V. Bovin, 2008, published in Biokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 4, pp. 483–497.

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Rapoport, E.M., Kurmyshkina, O.V. & Bovin, N.V. Mammalian galectins: Structure, carbohydrate specificity, and functions. Biochemistry Moscow 73, 393–405 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0006297908040032

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