Lectin that specifically recognizes microbial carbohydrate chains in a calcium-dependent manner (PubMed:26148048). Binds to microbial glycans that contain a terminal acyclic 1,2-diol moiety, including beta-linked D-galactofuranose (beta-Galf), D-phosphoglycerol-modified glycans, D-glycero-D-talo-oct-2-ulosonic acid (KO) and 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (KDO). Binds to glycans from Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including K.pneumoniae, S.pneumoniae, Y.pestis, P.mirabilis and P.vulgaris. Does not bind mammalian glycans. Probably plays a role in the defense system against microorganisms. May function as adipokine that has no effect on basal glucose uptake but enhances insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes. Increases AKT phosphorylation in the absence and presence of insulin. May interact with lactoferrin/LTF and increase its uptake, and may thereby play a role in iron absorption (By similarity). Monomer (PubMed:17621593). May interact with LTF (By similarity). Enriched in lipid rafts. Expressed in small intestinal Paneth cells in uninfected mice. Expression also detected in various other tissues including stomach, kidney, ovary and brain. In the embryo, levels are highest at day 7, decrease by mid-embryogenesis at day 11 and increase again in late embryogenesis at day 17. By infection with the helminth parasite N.brasiliensis. Constitutive expression does not lead to enhanced immunity to N.brasiliensis or M.tuberculosis.