I. V. Chikalovets, O. V. Chernikov, E. A. Shekhova, V. I. Molchanova, P. A. Lukyanov - Changes in the level of lectins in the mantle of the mussel Mytilus trossulus in response to anthropogenic contaminants

BIOLOGIYA MORYA, 2010, Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 70-74

Changes in the level of lectins in the mantle of the mussel Mytilus trossulus in response to anthropogenic contaminants

¹Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690022;
²Far Eastern State University, Vladivostok 690950

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The lectin activity in extracts from the mantle of the mussel Mytilus trossulus was tested for the first time. Using the method of hemagglutination inhibition, it was shown that lectins were Gal/GalNAc-specific and best agglutinated rabbit erythrocytes. The influence of foreign compounds on the lectin level in the M. trossulus mantle was examined. With cadmium acetate, phase alterations of lectin activity depending on contaminant concentration or exposure time were observed. During exposure to a synthetic detergent or diesel fuel, lectin contents changed in relation to exposure time.

Key words: lectins, mussel, agglutination activity, protective function.