title: Molecular genetics of human immune responsiveness to Lolium perenne (rye) allergen, Lol p III.
abstract: Lol p II and III are each about 11-kD protein allergens from the pollen of Lolium perenne (rye grass). We have found that human immune responses (IgE and IgG antibodies) to both proteins are significantly associated with HLA-DR3. In addition, the two proteins are cross-reactive with the antibodies in many human sera (about 84% human sera showed the cross-reactivity). We have determined greater than 90% of the amino acid sequences of the two proteins and found that they are at least 54% homologous. Berzofsky found that 75% of the 23 known T cell sites in various proteins had an amphipathic structure. Our analysis by the same method showed that both Lol p II and III have a major region of amphipathicity (at residues 61-67, Lol p III numbering) which might contain sites for binding to an Ia molecule and a T cell receptor. This region is identical between Lol p II and III, except for an Arg-Lys substitution, and could account, in part, for the DR3 association with responsiveness to both molecules. An interesting difference between the two proteins is that immune response to Lol p III is associated with DR5 (in addition to DR3), whereas no DR5 association is found in the case of Lol p II. One possibility is that Lol p III has an additional site which binds to the DR5 Ia molecule. Lol p III indeed has a second highly amphiphathic peptide, 24-30 (Lol p III 24 R P G D T L A 30), which is different and not amphipathic in Lol p II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Good Samaritan Hospital, Baltimore, Md.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Freidhoff
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Marsh
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000485:Allergens; D002523:Edible Grain; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D012434:Secale; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E