Many Ca2+-dependent (C-type) animal lectins contain a common sequence
motif, with 14 invariant and 18 highly conserved residues distributed
over discrete carbohydrate-recognition domains of 115-130 amino acids.
Domains that display the C-type carbohydrate-recognition domain motif
are found in an increasing number of proteins, although only some are
known to bind carbohydrate. Progress is being made towards making ded
uctions about the structure and activity of these domains from their s
equences.