This gene encodes alpha-lactalbumin, a principal protein of milk. Alpha-lactalbumin forms the regulatory subunit of the lactose synthase (LS) heterodimer and beta 1,4-galactosyltransferase (beta4Gal-T1) forms the catalytic component. Together, these proteins enable LS to produce lactose by transfering galactose moieties to glucose. As a monomer, alpha-lactalbumin strongly binds calcium and zinc ions and may possess bactericidal or antitumor activity. A folding variant of alpha-lactalbumin, called HAMLET, likely induces apoptosis in tumor and immature cells. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].
Koning, Kessen, Van Der Voorn, Appelmelk, Jeurink, Knippels, Garssen, Van Kooyk: "Human Milk Blocks DC-SIGN-Pathogen Interaction via MUC1." in: Frontiers in immunology, Vol. 6, pp. 112, (2015) (PubMed).
Gustafsson, Hallgren, Mossberg, Pettersson, Fischer, Aronsson, Svanborg: "HAMLET kills tumor cells by apoptosis: structure, cellular mechanisms, and therapy." in: The Journal of nutrition, Vol. 135, Issue 5, pp. 1299-303, (2005) (PubMed).