Definition
Lectins are proteins that bind to the carbohydrate portion of glycoproteins and glycolipids. The isolectin Griffonia simplicifolia I–B4 (IB4) binds specifically to terminal α-galactose, the terminal sugar on galactose-α1,3-galactose carbohydrates on glycoproteins and glycolipids. The IB4 lectin labels about one half of the small- and medium-diameter DRG neurons in rat and mouse. It is not yet clear which proteins or lipids in DRG neurons account for the majority of labeling by IB4 binding.
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© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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(2007). Alpha(α)-D Galactose. In: Schmidt, R., Willis, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pain. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29805-2_169
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29805-2_169
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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