thiodigalactoside

Thiodigalactoside is a synthetic, non-metabolizable disaccharide belonging to the dihexose class, specifically a β-linked thioglycoside composed of two galactopyranose units connected via a sulfur atom at the anomeric position. It acts as a potent inhibitor of galectins, particularly galectin-1, and also binds to galectin-3, -8, and -9 with micromolar affinity. Thiodigalactoside has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities in preclinical studies by inhibiting multiple cancer-enhancing activities mediated by β-galactoside-binding proteins (galectins). It is used primarily as a research tool to investigate the roles of galectins in cell signaling, inflammation, obesity (notably reducing body weight gain in animal models), and carcinogenesis. There are no approved therapeutic indications or clinical trials for this compound; it remains experimental for all uses[1][2][3][5][6].

Other names

thiodigalactosideD-Galactopyranosyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranosideGalactosyl 1-thiogalactosideGalactosyl1-thiogalactosideGalactosyl-1-thiogalactosideβ-D-Galactopyranosyl 1-thio-β-D-galactopyranoside