BanLec (also BanLec-I or Banana lectin) is a
lectin from the
jacalin-related lectin family isolated from the fruit of the
bananasMusa acuminata[1] and Musa balbisiana.[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] A 2010 study reported that BanLec was a potent inhibitor of
HIV replication.[1]
BanLec exists as a
homodimer of two identical 15
kDa subunits [3] and has also been reported as a tetramer complex.[5] The protein is highly stable,
unfolding only at high temperatures[6][7]
All jacalin-related lectins feature type I
beta-prism folding motifs (the beta-prism I fold is like a perfect beta-prism with each side made up of a four-stranded
greek key motif), but BanLec is the first jacalin-related lectin from the
monocot family of plants, while all other members are
dicots; other monocot mannose-binding lectins exhibit beta-prism II folding instead.[7]
In 2010, BanLec was reported to be a
potent inhibitor of
HIV replication.[1][9] Researchers at the
University of Michigan determined that BanLec bound to the
HIV-1envelope proteingp120, which is high in sugar content, inhibiting viral entry into human cells.[1][9] The researchers suggest that such an inhibitor of HIV infection may find use as a
topical treatment, such as a
vaginalmicrobicide, and may be cheaper to produce than current antiviral topical treatments.[10]