Mannose-binding lectin (PubMed:9111143, PubMed:18266762, PubMed:14561768, PubMed:26971576, PubMed:28973127). Preferentially binds mannose at concentrations ranging between 5 and 25 mM, but binds also glucose. Has a marked preference for methylated sugar derivatives, such as alpha-MeMan and alpha-MeGlc, at concentration down to 5 mM (PubMed:14561768). Binds to N-glycans, but not to glycolipid-type or other type of glycans (PubMed:28973127). Binds N-linked high-mannose-type glycans (PubMed:18266762, PubMed:28973127). Has a preference for smaller (Man(2)-Man(6)) high-mannose-type glycans to larger (Man(7)-Man(9)) ones. Recognizes both alpha1-6 extended and alpha1-3 extended monoantennary glycans. The addition of alpha1-2Man to the Man-alpha1-3Man-beta branch results in a significant loss of affinity, but beta1-2GlcNAc has some affinity. Has less affinity for biantennary glycans (PubMed:18266762). However, affinity is significant for the biantennary complex-type N-glycans with bisecting GlcNAc (PubMed:18266762, PubMed:26971576, PubMed:28973127). No affinity is observed for tri- and tetra-antennary glycans (PubMed:18266762). Binds bisected glycans of the mouse brain. Selectively binds to bisecting N-glycans which are in back-fold conformation, and does not favor a glycan with an extend conformation (PubMed:26971576). Has hemagglutinating activity against rabbit erythrocytes at 0.3 ug/ml and against trypsin-treated human erythrocytes at 5 ug/ml. Has mitogenic activity in murine cells (PubMed:9111143). Hemagglutinating activity is most inhibited by methyl alpha-mannopyranoside. This activity is inhibited to a less extent (about a third of the inhibition of that of methyl alpha-mannopyranoside) by methyl alpha-glucoside, other alpha-glucosides, such as maltose, isomaltose, panose or palatinose, and alpha-glucosides modified at the second position, such as methyl 2-deoxy-alpha-arabinoglucopyranoside or methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy alpha-glucopyranoside. Mildly inhibited by free monosaccharides, with glucose presenting at least 20-fold less inhibitory effect on hemagglutinating activity than mannose. Glycoproteins are somewhat inhibitory, the best being asialothyroglobulin and ovomucoid. Not inhibited by isomaltitol, sucrose or trehalose. Homodimer. Rhizome (at protein level) (PubMed:8955378, PubMed:9111143, PubMed:15299962, PubMed:10908718, PubMed:14561768). Detected in the cortex and the pith of rhizome. Not detected in vascular tissues, pericycle, endodermis or rhizodermis (PubMed:10908718). Not glycosylated. Can be used for the isolation of glycoproteins from humans, plants and fungi. Is a powerful T-cell mitogen in the mouse, and can thus be used as an alternative to concanavalin A for the mitogenic proliferation of murine lymphocytes (PubMed:9111143). Identified as one of the several suitable fluorescently labeled lectins that can be used in a combination for the visualization and quantification of extracellular glycoconjugates in dental supragingival biofilms grown for 48 hours in situ in the absence of dietary carbohydrates (PubMed:28748044). Used in lectin-based microarrays to detect altered glycosylation in cancer tissue (PubMed:32143591). Belongs to the jacalin lectin family.