Team:Aachen/Project/Gal3
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- | Galectins are proteins of the lectin family, which posess ''' | + | Galectins are proteins of the lectin family, which posess '''carbohydrate recognition domains''' binding specifically to β-galactoside sugar residues. In humans, 10 different galectins' have been identified, among which is galectin-3. |
Galectin-3 has a size of about 31 kDA and is encoded by a single gene, LGALS3. It has many physiological functions, such as '''cell adhesion, cell growth and differentiation,''' and contributes to the development of '''cancer, inflammation, fibrosis and others'''. | Galectin-3 has a size of about 31 kDA and is encoded by a single gene, LGALS3. It has many physiological functions, such as '''cell adhesion, cell growth and differentiation,''' and contributes to the development of '''cancer, inflammation, fibrosis and others'''. | ||
Human galectin-3 is a protein of the lectin-family that was shown to bind the LPS of multiple human pathogens. | Human galectin-3 is a protein of the lectin-family that was shown to bind the LPS of multiple human pathogens. | ||
- | Some of them, including '' | + | Some of them, including ''P. aeruginosa'' protect themselves against the human immune system by mimicking the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) present on human erythrocytes. |
By making fusion proteins from galectin-3 and fluorescent reporter proteins, pathogens can be labelled and made visible by fluorescence microscopy. | By making fusion proteins from galectin-3 and fluorescent reporter proteins, pathogens can be labelled and made visible by fluorescence microscopy. |
Revision as of 22:40, 17 October 2014
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