title: Isolation and characterization of cal allergens.
abstract: A crude (saline soluble) extract of cat skins capable of eliciting a strong positive prick skin test in cat sensitive individuals was fractionated on Sephadex G200. Active fractions were pooled and successively fractionated on isoelectric focusing gradients of pH 3-5 and pH 4-5. Allergenic activity was localized in two peaks with mean isoelectric points of 4-1 and 4-35 respectively. On immunoelectrophoresis the allergen with pI = 4-35 was associated with a protein which was subsequently found to be immunologically indistinguishable from serum albumin and to have a molecular weight of 69,000 daltons. The allergen with pI = 4-1 migrated in the alpha2-region on immunoelectrophoresis and had a mean molecular weight of 55,000 daltons. This allergen was isolated and analysed for amino acid and carbohydrate content. A combined extract of both allergens coupled to microcrystalline cellulose and used a RAST procedure readily distinguished between two groups of individuals classified as skin test positive and skin test negative to cat allergen.
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000276:immunology*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin; D012882:Skin Tests; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000596:Amino Acids; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D014020:Tissue Extracts