Anti-LGALS8

This gene encodes a member of the galectin family. Galectins are beta-galactoside-binding animal lectins with conserved carbohydrate recognition domains. The galectins have been implicated in many essential functions including development, differentiation, cell-cell adhesion, cell-matrix interaction, growth regulation, apoptosis, and RNA splicing. This gene is widely expressed in tumoral tissues and seems to be involved in integrin-like cell interactions. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified. Protein function: Beta-galactoside-binding lectin that acts as a sensor of membrane damage caused by infection and restricts the proliferation of infecting pathogens by targeting them for autophagy (PubMed:22246324, PubMed:28077878). Detects membrane rupture by binding beta-galactoside ligands located on the lumenal side of the endosome membrane, these ligands becoming exposed to the cytoplasm following rupture (PubMed:22246324, PubMed:28077878). Restricts infection by initiating autophagy via interaction with CALCOCO2/NDP52 (PubMed:22246324, PubMed:28077878). Required to restrict infection of bacterial invasion such as S.typhimurium (PubMed:22246324). Also required to restrict infection of Picornaviridae viruses (PubMed:28077878). Has a marked preference for 3'-O-sialylated and 3'-O-sulfated glycans (PubMed:21288902). [The UniProt Consortium]