A galactose-binding protein of M(r) = 30,000 previously described in baby hamster kidney cells (Foddy, L., Stamatoglou, S. C., and Hughes, R. C. (1990) J. Cell Sci. 97, 139-148) has been analyzed by the cloning and sequencing of cDNA clones encoding the complete sequence and an amino-terminal fragment. The intact lectin CBP30 contains 245 amino acid residues, including the initiating methionine residue, and is closely homologous to mammalian S-type lectins of similar size characterized in human, rat, and mouse species. The carboxyl-terminal domain contains the carbohydrate binding activity and the amino-terminal domain, which is extremely sensitive to bacterial collagenase, contains a repetitive sequence rich in glycine, tyrosine, and proline. There are 8 repeats in hamster CBP30, as in the human homologue, compared with about 10 in rat and mouse and > 10 in dog homologues. This repeat sequence is also sensitive to the tissue metalloproteinases, gelatinase B and matrilysin, but, unlike the bacterial collagenase, the mammalian enzymes also cause extensive degradation of the carbohydrate binding carboxyl domain. Physical measurements using CD and tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy indicate that the two domains of CBP30 are structurally, as well as functionally, distinct and independent. Cross-linking studies indicate that the amino-terminal lectin fragment can efficiently self-assemble into oligomeric species, and less efficient but significant aggregation of the intact lectin is also shown. Domain-specific antibodies to hamster CBP30 have been prepared and used to show that only the full-length, undegraded form of CBP30 is present in whole cell lysates.