Background:
This gene encodes a member of the galectin family. Galectins are beta-galactoside-binding animal lectins with conserved carbohydrate recognition domains. The galectins have been implicated in many essential functions including development,differentiation,cell-cell adhesion,cell-matrix interaction,growth regulation,apoptosis,and RNA splicing. This gene is widely expressed in tumoral tissues and seems to be involved in integrin-like cell interactions. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified. [provided by RefSeq,Jul 2008]