Structural investigations of the major allergen Phl p I on the complementary DNA and protein level.
Until now investigations of group I grass allergens have mainly been performed on ryegrass allergen (Lol p I). We studied this major allergen grass group with timothy grass pollen (Phl p I), a very common and important cause of type I allergy, to determine intraspecific and interspecific variations among different grass species. By immunoscreening a timothy grass pollen complementary DNA library we obtained three full-length clones. They revealed identical nucleotide sequences in the coding regions consisting of 262 amino acids, including a leader sequence of 23 amino acid residues. The comparison of our data with the amino acid sequences deduced from Lol p I and Hol 1 I clones showed sequence identities of greater than 85% and homologies of greater than 90%, indicating a high degree of sequence conservation. Despite the high degree of homology, amino acid differences were in immunodominant positions, which may be responsible for the differing immune response to group I allergens of different grass species.
Petersen
A
A
Division of Allergology, Forschungsinstitut Borstel, Germany.
Schramm
G
G
Bufe
A
A
Schlaak
M
M
Becker
W M
WM
D000485:Allergens / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013045:Species Specificity
D000485:Allergens; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010940:Plant Proteins; C090396:PHLPI protein, Phleum pratense