GALECTIN-3, A BETA-GALACTOSIDE-BINDING ANIMAL LECTIN, BINDS TO NEURALRECOGNITION MOLECULES

In this study, we have investigated the ability of galectin-3, a beta- galactoside-binding animal lectin, to interact in vitro with different neural tissue-derived glycoproteins involved in cell-cell and cell-su bstrate adhesion. Galectin-3 interacted to varying degrees with the ce ll recognition molecules L1,the myelin-associated glycoprotein, and th e neural cell adhesion molecule and the extracellular matrix molecules tenascin-C and tenascin-R but not with collagen type I. Binding of ga lectin-3 to the different glycoproteins tested was carbohydrate depend ent and could be specifically inhibited by the addition of lactose and , to a lesser extent, galactose.