Alternative titles; symbols
HGNC Approved Gene Symbol: LGALS4
Cytogenetic location: 19q13.2 Genomic coordinates (GRCh38): 19:38,801,674-38,812,945 (from NCBI)
Galectins are a family of animal lectins defined by an affinity for beta-galactoside-containing saccharides and by shared sequence elements. Using a differential hybridization strategy to isolate genes whose expression was modified during colorectal carcinogenesis, Rechreche et al. (1997) identified a cDNA encoding galectin-4 (LGALS4). The 323-amino acid LGALS4 protein contains 2 homologous, approximately 150-amino acid carbohydrate recognition domains and all amino acids typically conserved in galectins. Northern blot analysis showed that expression of the 1.2-kb LGALS4 transcript was restricted to small intestine, colon, and rectum.
Huflejt et al. (1997) independently cloned a cDNA encoding LGALS4. They found that LGALS4 is expressed as a 38-kD protein in the human colon adenocarcinoma T84 cell line. By immunocytochemistry, the authors showed that LGALS4 and LGALS3 (153619) had different cellular localizations. In confluent T84 cells, LGALS4 was mainly cytosolic and was concentrated at the basal membrane. In subconfluent T84 cells, it was found in attachment sites of newly seeded cells and was concentrated at the leading edge of lamellipodia. Based on the localization of LGALS4 and the ability of immobilized recombinant rat Lgals4 to enhance adhesion of T84 cells, Huflejt et al. (1997) suggested that LGALS4 plays a role in cell adhesion.
Rechreche et al. (1997) compared the LGALS4 mRNA levels in the colon adenocarcinoma and adjacent normal mucosa of 19 patients and found that LGALS4 expression was 1.5- to 50-fold lower in the tumor in 18 patients. There was no significant correlation between the level of decreased LGALS4 expression and the degree of differentiation or Duke state of the tumor, suggesting that decreased LGALS4 expression occurs early in colorectal carcinogenesis.
By screening for innate proteins that could recognize human blood group antigens, Stowell et al. (2010) identified GAL4 and GAL8 (LGALS8; 606099), both of which are expressed in the intestinal tract, as proteins that recognized and killed E. coli expressing blood group antigen, but not bacteria that did not express such antigens. Video, fluorescence, and electron microscopy showed that bacterial cells lost motility and membrane integrity upon treatment with these lectins. Mutation analysis indicated that the killing activity was mediated by the C-terminal domains of GAL4 and GAL8 in a rapid, complement-independent manner. Stowell et al. (2010) concluded that innate defense lectins provide immunity against pathogens expressing blood group-like antigens on their surface.
Gross (2010) mapped the LGALS4 gene to chromosome 19q13.2 based on an alignment of the LGALS4 sequence (GenBank AB006781) and the genomic sequence (GRCh37).
Gross, M. B. Personal Communication. Baltimore, Md. 5/18/2010.
Huflejt, M. E., Jordan, E. T., Gitt, M. A., Barondes, S. H., Leffler, H. Strikingly different localization of galectin-3 and galectin-4 in human colon adenocarcinoma T84 cells: galectin-4 is localized at sites of cell adhesion. J. Biol. Chem. 272: 14294-14303, 1997. [PubMed: 9162064] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.272.22.14294]
Rechreche, H., Mallo, G. V., Montalto, G., Dagorn, J.-C., Iovanna, J. L. Cloning and expression of the mRNA of human galectin-4, an S-type lectin down-regulated in colorectal cancer. Europ. J. Biochem. 248: 225-230, 1997. [PubMed: 9310382] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1997.00225.x]
Stowell, S. R., Arthur, C. M., Dias-Baruffi, M., Rodrigues, L. C., Gourdine, J.-P., Heimburg-Molinaro, J., Ju, T., Molinaro, R. J., Rivera-Marrero, C., Xia, B., Smith, D. F., Cummings, R. D. Innate immune lectins kill bacteria expressing blood group antigen. Nature Med. 16: 295-301, 2010. [PubMed: 20154696] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.2103]