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.
