Galectin-8, also known as prostate carcinoma tumor antigen 1 (PCTA1), is a member of the galectin family of proteins. Galectins are a group of β-galactoside-binding proteins that play crucial roles in various biological processes, including cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. Galectin-8 is a tandem-repeat type galectin, meaning it contains two carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs) connected by a linker peptide .
Galectin-8 was initially cloned from a rat liver cDNA library and is composed of 316 amino acids with a molecular weight of approximately 35 kDa . The protein is highly expressed in various tissues, including lung carcinomas, certain forms of prostate carcinomas, and other tumor cells . It is also expressed in the villous and extravillous trophoblast cells of the human placenta, indicating its role in pregnancy establishment .
Galectin-8 is involved in a wide range of biological functions:
Recombinant human galectin-8 is produced using E. coli expression systems. The recombinant protein is typically purified to a high degree of purity (>97%) and is used in various research applications . It is available in both carrier-free and carrier-containing formulations, with the carrier protein (usually bovine serum albumin) enhancing protein stability and shelf-life .
Recombinant human galectin-8 is widely used in research to study its various biological functions. It is used in cell-based assays to investigate its effects on cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. Additionally, it is used in studies related to cancer, tissue regeneration, and pregnancy .