Characterization of the major allergen of plum as a lipid transfer protein.
BACKGROUND
Allergy to Prunoideae fruit (plum, peach, cherry and apricot) is one of the most frequent food allergies in southern Europe. All these fruits cross-react in vivo and in vitro, as they share their major allergen, a 9 kD lipid transfer protein (LTP).


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was the identification and molecular characterization of the major allergen of plum.


METHODS
The IgE pattern of reactivity to plums was investigated by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting with the sera of 23 patients. The identified major allergen was purified by HPLC, using a cationic-exchange column followed by gel-filtration. Further characterization was achieved by periodic-Schiff stain, isoelectrofocusing and N-terminal amino acid sequencing.


CONCLUSIONS
The major allergen of plum is a 9 kD lipid transfer protein, not glycosylated and with a basic character (pI>9), highly homologous to the major allergen of peach.
Pastorello
E A
EA
Third Division of General Medicine, Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS, Milan, Italy. elidepa@box1.tin.it
Farioli
L
L
Pravettoni
V
V
Giuffrida
M G
MG
Ortolani
C
C
Fortunato
D
D
Trambaioli
C
C
Scibola
E
E
Calamari
A M
AM
Robino
A M
AM
Conti
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011485:Protein Binding
D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; C511920:lipid transfer proteins, plant; D007073:Immunoglobulin E