Recombinant
galectin 8 (rGal 8), produced in host
Escherichia coli, exerts hemagglutinating activity, neutrophil adhesion inducing activity,
integrin αM-binding activity, proMMP-9 binding activity, active form MMP-9 production promoting activity,
superoxide production promoting activity,
apoptosis inducing activity for a particular
cell, suppressive or inhibitory activity against the
metastasis / invasion of
tumor cells, etc. In the rGal 8, however, a link domain linking two CRDs is highly susceptible to
protease and, therefore, is very easily digestible with the
enzyme, thereby losing the above activities. Thus, there is a need for a more stabilized molecule in view of further studies. Modification of the link domain linking two CRDs in
galectin 8 provides a modified molecule having an elevated activity without any undesirable effects on the above activities.