CLEC-2

CLEC-2 (CLEC1B) is a platelet activation receptor best known for binding the transmembrane glycoprotein podoplanin. A single hemITAM in its cytoplasmic tail recruits Syk and Slp-76, driving platelet aggregation and spreading upon engagement by podoplanin or by the snake C-type lectin rhodocytin. Beyond hemostasis, CLEC-2 signaling is essential for blood-lymphatic separation during development and has been implicated in tumor metastasis, where podoplanin-expressing cancer cells co-opt platelets. Within the C-type lectin family it stands out for this unique activation motif shared only with a few related receptors. Recombinant CLEC-2 is used to study podoplanin interactions, platelet signaling, and metastatic niches.