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Cloning, expression and immunological characterisation of Coc n 1, the first major allergen from Coconut pollen.
- Source :
-
Molecular immunology [Mol Immunol] 2021 Mar; Vol. 131, pp. 33-43. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jan 21. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Coconut pollen has been documented to be a major contributor to the aeroallergen load in India, causing respiratory allergy in a large cohort of susceptible individuals. Here, we report the identification of the first major allergen from Coconut pollen, Coc n 1. The full-length sequence of the allergen was determined from previously identified peptides and overexpressed in E. coli. Recombinant Coc n 1 folded into a trimer and was found to possess allergenicity equivalent to its natural counterpart. Proteolytic processing of Coc n 1 led to the formation of an immunodominant ∼20 kDa C-terminal subunit and the site of cleavage was determined by amino acid microsequencing. Five linear IgE binding epitopes were predicted and mapped on the homology modelled structure of Coc n 1. Amongst three immunodominant epitopes, two were present towards the C-terminal end. Coc n 1 was found to belong to the highly diverse cupin superfamily and mimics its structure with known 7S globulin or vicilin allergens but lacks sequence similarity. Using sequence similarity networks, Coc n 1 clustered as a separate group containing unannotated cupin domain proteins and did not include known vicilin allergens except Gly m Bd 28 kDa, a Soybean major allergen. 7S globulins are major storage proteins and food allergens, but presence of such protein in pollen grains is reported for the first time. Further study on Coc n 1 may provide insights into its function in pollen grains and also in the development of immunotherapy to Coconut pollen allergy.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Amino Acid Sequence
Base Sequence
Cloning, Molecular methods
Epitopes immunology
Food Hypersensitivity immunology
Globulins immunology
Humans
Immunoglobulin E immunology
India
Plant Proteins immunology
Seed Storage Proteins immunology
Allergens immunology
Antigens, Plant immunology
Cocos immunology
Pollen immunology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1872-9142
- Volume :
- 131
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Molecular immunology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33486354
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2020.12.026