title: N-terminal sequences of high molecular weight allergens from celery tuber.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Celery tuber is an important source of food allergens. Low molecular weight celery allergens were identified as homologues of Bet v 1 and profilin. Little is known about the relevant allergens with molecular weights between 45 and 60 kDa, which cross-react with other plant food and pollen allergens.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to isolate cross-reactive, high molecular weight allergens from celery and to characterize them by N-terminal sequencing.
  
  
  METHODS
  High molecular weight allergens of celery were identified by immunoglobulin (Ig) E immunoblotting with patients' sera, and the IgE-binding patterns were compared with those of the monoclonal antibirch pollen antibody BIP3, as well as of a polyclonal rabbit anti-Art v 1 antiserum. Two independent methods, elution from preparative SDS-PAGE or anion exchange chromatography, were used to purify the IgE-binding celery proteins of interest. The isolated proteins were examined by N-terminal sequencing and IgE-immunoblots.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Celery allergens with molecular masses of 55, 58 and 63 kDa, which were also recognized by the monoclonal BIP3 antibody and a polyclonal anti-Art v 1 antiserum, were isolated. The 63-kDa allergen was N-terminally blocked. The 55- and 58-kDa compounds yielded the same N-terminus, which showed no homology to known proteins in the databases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of two independent protein separation techniques, immunoblotting and N-terminal sequencing, identified an N-terminus of two allergens in the 60-kDa molecular weight region. Our data will be helpful for the definite molecular characterization of these important cross-reactive molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of General & Experimental Pathology, AKH, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ganglberger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Radauer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoffmann-Sommergruber
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Breiteneder
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Scheiner
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jensen-Jarolim
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D019661:Apiaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity; D006801:Humans; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D051304:Profilins; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D051304:Profilins; C061312:Bet v 1 allergen, Betula