lec-8 encodes a glycolipid-binding galectin; LEC-8 binds glycolipids and can inhibit Bacillus thuringiensis Cry5B from binding glycolipids; lec-8 mutants are more susceptible to Cry5B; lec-8 is expressed in the pharyngeal-intestinal valve, the intestinal-rectal valve, and in some vesicles of the intestine; lec-8 expression in the intestine is induced in response to bacterial infection and Cry5B, suggesting that LEC-8 plays a role in host defense response.
Enables glycolipid binding activity. Involved in response to toxic substance. Located in cytoplasmic vesicle. Expressed in intestine; pharyngeal-intestinal valve; tail; virL; and virR. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in several diseases, including COVID-19; aortic valve stenosis; and liver cirrhosis. Is an ortholog of human LGALS3 (galectin 3).
Map position created from combination of previous interpolated map position (based on known location of sequence) and allele information. Therefore this is not a genetic map position based on recombination frequencies or genetic experiments. This was done on advice of the CGC.