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Updated: Jan 28, 2026
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Design and Use of an Apparatus for Quantifying Bivalve Suspension Feeding at Sea
Published on: September 5, 2018
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C-Type Lectins from Marine Bivalves: Functional Diversity and Structural Insights
Ivan Buriak1, Daria Lanskikh1, Ivan Baklanov1
1A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690041 Vladivostok, Russia.
Marine Drugs
|January 27, 2026
Summary
Bivalve C-type lectins (CTLs) are vital for immunity and other functions. However, their specific carbohydrate-binding abilities remain largely unknown, hindering a full understanding of their roles.
Area of Science:
- Invertebrate Immunology
- Carbohydrate Chemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- C-type lectins (CTLs) are calcium-dependent carbohydrate-binding proteins crucial for innate immunity.
- Bivalve mollusks exhibit remarkably diverse CTL repertoires, but a comprehensive review is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize current knowledge on bivalve CTLs, covering structure, function, and regulation.
- To analyze their biosynthesis, tissue-specific expression, and roles in immunity and physiology.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing literature on bivalve CTLs.
- Analysis of domain architectures, phylogenetic relationships, and key motifs.
- Consolidation of data on expression patterns and functional roles.
Main Results:
- Bivalve CTLs are involved in pathogen recognition, agglutination, phagocytosis, nutrition, development, byssus formation, and biomineralization.
- Diverse domain structures and phylogenetic relationships were identified.
- The detailed carbohydrate specificity of most bivalve CTLs is poorly characterized.
Conclusions:
- The immune functions of bivalve CTLs are established, but their precise glycan-binding profiles are largely unknown.
- Future research should focus on elucidating CTL structure and carbohydrate specificity for a complete understanding of their biological functions and biomedical potential.
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