title: Molecular characterization of Phl p II, a major timothy grass (Phleum pratense) pollen allergen.
abstract: Grass pollen allergens belong to the most important and widespread elicitors of pollen allergy. Using serum IgE from a grass pollen allergic patient, a complete cDNA encoding a group II allergen was isolated from a timothy grass (Phleum pratense) pollen expression library. The deduced amino acid sequence of the Phl p II allergen shows an average sequence identity of 61% with the protein sequences determined for group II/III allergens from rye grass (Lolium perenne) and a sequence identity of 43% with the C-terminal portion of group I grass pollen allergens from different species. A hydrophobic leader peptide similar to leader peptides found in other major grass pollen allergens heads the deduced amino acid sequence, indicating that group II/III grass pollen allergens belong to a family of secreted proteins. Serum IgE specific for Phl p II, detected the protein exclusively in pollen and not in other plant tissues. The recombinant Phl p II was expressed in Escherichia coli and showed similar IgE-binding capacity as the natural allergen.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, AKH, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dolecek
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vrtala
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laffer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steinberger
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Scheiner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valenta
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004247:DNA; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006109:Poaceae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; C084984:PHLPII protein, Phleum pratense; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D004247:DNA