Novel Lectins from <i>Bauhinia</i> with Differential <i>N-</i>Glycan Binding Profiles

The specific interaction of lectins with carbohydrates and glycoconjugates grants these proteins a distinct ability to decode the glycocode. Essential for various biological processes in all organisms, this carbohydrate-binding activity also establishes lectins as valuable tools in fields such as glycomics, medicine, and biotechnology. Considering that the discovery of novel lectins with unique binding profiles is particularly relevant, this study investigated the binding specificity of two lectins extracted from <i>Bauhinia</i> seeds toward simple sugars, <i>N</i>-glycans and <i>O</i>-glycans. The combination of agglutination-inhibition assays and glycan arrays revealed subtle differences in the binding of the lectins to galactosides and glycans containing specific motifs, such as LewisX, LacdiNAc, and fucosylated LacdiNAc. Despite slight differences in carbohydrate-binding patterns, both lectins showed similar results in toxicity assays using <i>Artemia salina</i> nauplii and cytotoxicity assays on cancer cell lines, with neither lectin exhibiting significant toxicity. Additionally, both lectins demonstrated low cytotoxicity toward HeLa (cervical adenocarcinoma), HT1080 (fibrosarcoma), and NHDF (normal fibroblasts), even at concentrations up to 125 μg/mL. Analysis of the partial amino acid sequences of these lectins revealed conserved residues compared to other lectins of the genus, as well as secondary structure conformations similar to those of other legume lectins. This research represents a significant advancement in the understanding of lectins from the genus <i>Bauhinia</i>, and future structural studies could further elucidate the interactions of these proteins with their ligands, providing fundamental insights into their biological functions and paving the way toward potential applications.