Calcium-independent lectin displaying mannose-binding specificity and able to maintain carbohydrate recognition activity in an acidic environment. May be involved in inflammatory and metaplastic responses of the gastrointestinal epithelium.
Subcellular locations: Secreted
Highly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract including the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, ileocecum, appendix, descending colon, pancreas and small intestine. Weakly expressed in normal colon and stomach. Strongly expressed in most colorectal tumors than in normal colon. Preferentially expressed in mucinous tumors and in some cases neuro-endocrine tumors. Expressed in mucus-secreting cells and enterocyte-like cells. In small intestine expressed at the basal perinuclear zone of goblet cells.