title: The gene coding for the major birch pollen allergen Betv1, is highly homologous to a pea disease resistance response gene.
abstract: Pollen of the white birch (Betula verrucosa) is one of the main causes of Type I allergic reactions (allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, allergic bronchial asthma) in Middle and Northern Europe, North America and the USSR. Type I allergies are a major threat to public health in these countries, since 10-15% of the population suffer from these diseases. BetvI, an allergenic protein with an Mr of 17 kd is a constituent of the pollen of white birch and is responsible for IgE binding in more than 95% of birch pollen allergic patients. Here, we report the complete nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence of a cDNA clone coding for the major pollen allergen (BetvI) of white birch. It is similar to the N-terminal peptide sequences of the allergens of hazel, alder and hornbeam (close relatives) but it has no significant sequence homology to any other known allergens. However, it shows 55% sequence identity with a pea disease resistance response gene, indicating that BetvI may be involved in pathogen resistance of pollen.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Breiteneder
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pettenburger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bito
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valenta
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rumpold
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Scheiner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breitenbach
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000235:genetics; D005796:Genes; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011058:Pollen; D011061:Poly A / Q000235:genetics; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C061312:Bet v 1 allergen, Betula; D011061:Poly A; D004247:DNA