PMID: 9760227 , Related PDB ids: 1BKZ, 2GAL, 3GAL, 4GAL, 5GAL

Authors:

Leonidas DD, Vatzaki EH, Vorum H, Celis JE, Madsen P, Acharya KR

Title:

Structural basis for the recognition of carbohydrates by human galectin-7.

Journal:

Biochemistry. 1998 Oct 6;37(40):13930-40.

Abstract:

Knowledge about carbohydrate recognition domains of galectins, formerly known as S-type animal lectins, is important in understanding their role(s) in cell-cell interactions. Here we report the crystal structure of human galectin-7 (hGal-7), in free form and in the presence of galactose, galactosamine, lactose, and N-acetyl-lactosamine at high resolution. This is the first structure of a galectin determined in both free and carbohydrate-bound forms. The structure shows a fold similar to that of the prototype galectins -1 and -2, but has greater similarity to a related galectin molecule, Gal-10. Even though the carbohydrate-binding residues are conserved, there are significant changes in this pocket due to shortening of a loop structure. The monomeric hGal-7 molecule exists as a dimer in the crystals, but adopts a packing arrangement considerably different from that of Gal-1 and Gal-2, which has implications for carbohydrate recognition.