title: Molecular characterization of Api g 1, the major allergen of celery (Apium graveolens), and its immunological and structural relationships to a group of 17-kDa tree pollen allergens.
abstract: Individuals suffering from immediate hypersensitivity (type-I allergy) to a particular pollen frequently display intolerance to several foods of plant origin. In this respect, individuals sensitized to birch pollen and/or mugwort pollen frequently display type-I allergic symptoms after ingestion of celery. In this study, we expressed the major allergenic protein of celery, Api g 1, which is responsible for the birch-celery syndrome, in the form of a non-fusion protein. The open reading frame of the cDNA of Api g 1 codes for a protein of 153 amino acids with a molecular mass of 16.2 kDa and 40% identity (60% similarity) to the major allergen of birch pollen, Bet v 1. Furthermore, Api g 1 exhibited similar characteristics to (a) two proteins in parsley induced by fungal infection, (b) the major tree pollen allergens and (c) pathogenesis-related and stress-induced proteins in other plant species. The reactivity of recombinant Api g 1 with IgE antibodies present in sera from celery intolerant patients was comparable to that of the natural celery allergen. Cross-reactivity with Bet v 1 was proven by cross-inhibition experiments, which provides further support for the existence of the birch-celery syndrome and for the suggestion that allergies to some vegetable foods are epiphenomena to allergies caused by inhalation of tree pollen.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Breiteneder
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoffmann-Sommergruber
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Riordain
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Susani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahorn
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Scheiner
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C096695:Api g 1 protein, Apium graveolens; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins