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. 2019 Mar 22;26(6):981–993. doi: 10.1038/s41418-019-0317-6

Fig. 1. Classification of galectins.

Fig. 1

According to the number and arrangement of the carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs), galectin family members are classified into three main types: proto, chimera, and tandem-repeat. Some galectins can self-associate into dimers or oligomers. The consensus sequence, which corresponds to the CRD, consists of ∼130 amino acids. Via their CRDs, galectins can interact with poly-N-acetyllactosamine (Gal-β(1-4)-GlcNAc, LacNAc)-based carbohydrates present in proteins, lipids, or other molecules. “One-CRD” galectins usually exist as dimers, whereas Gal-3 forms upon binding to Gal-β(1-4)-GlcNAc structures on cell surface and extracellular matrix. Tandem-repeat-type galectins comprise two homologous CRDs, separated by a short linker of up to 70 amino acids. Figure is modified from [100]