Galectins in general lack a traditional signal sequence, but are still secreted across the plasma membrane.

Galectin 1 contains a single carbohydrate recognition domain through which it can bind glycans both as a monomer and as a homodimer.

[9] The galectins are a family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins implicated in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions.

[11] It has been linked to the inflammatory process in HIV individuals, and some research suggest that Gal-1 could be related to the HIV-1 latency.

[13] Galectin-1 is expressed by the endometrial stromal cells throughout the menstrual cycle, however significantly increases during implantation.