STRUCTURE AND BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF GALECTIN-3. PART II

Gal-3 shares several significant structural properties with Bcl-2 family. Both proteins contain anti-death motif, critical for their anti-apoptotic function but the mechanism by which gal-3 exhibits antiapoptotic activity cannot be explained solely on it. Depending on the type, state and condition of the cell as well as depending on the type of stimulus gal-3 can show pro- or anti-apoptotic activity. Cytoplasmic gal-3 expression seems to be strongly implicated in an anti-apoptotic function and drug resistance in cancer cells, suggesting that cytoplasmic gal-3 is a candidate target protein to suppress anticancer drug resistance. Gal-3 previously known as IgE-binding protein is a pro-inflammatory lectin. In response to pro-inflammatory agents some cells produce and release high amount of gal-3. Taking together, gal-3 can provide a new therapeutic target for improving chemotherapy of cancer. In addition the detection of extracellular gal-3 may be of diagnostic value as prognostic cancer marker.