[2] BanLec is one of the predominant proteins in the pulp of ripe bananas[3] and has binding specificity for mannose and mannose-containing oligosaccharides.
[2] It was discovered due to its highly immunogenic properties—BanLec induces a strong IgG4 antibody response[2]—and appears to be an important antigen involved in banana allergies.
[3] BanLec exists as a homodimer of two identical 15 kDa subunits [3] and has also been reported as a tetramer complex.
[7] Crystal structures of BanLec suggest that the lectin has two saccharide binding sites.
[1][9] Researchers at the University of Michigan determined that BanLec bound to the HIV-1 envelope protein gp120, which is high in sugar content, inhibiting viral entry into human cells.