title: Comparison of the crystal structures of the human manganese superoxide dismutase and the homologous Aspergillus fumigatus allergen at 2-A resolution.
abstract: Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) of Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus involved in many pulmonary complications, has been identified as IgE-binding protein. It has been shown also that MnSODs from other organisms, including human, are recognized by IgE Abs from individuals sensitized to A. fumigatus MnSOD. Comparison of the fungal and the human crystal structure should allow the identification of structural similarities responsible for IgE-mediated cross-reactivity. The three-dimensional structure of A. fumigatus MnSOD has been determined at 2-A resolution by x-ray diffraction analysis. Crystals belonged to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit cell dimensions of a = 65.88 A, b = 98.7 A, and c = 139.28 A. The structure was solved by molecular replacement using the structure of the human MnSOD as a search model. The final refined model included four chains of 199-200 amino acids, four manganese ions, and 745 water molecules, with a crystallographic R-factor of 19.4% and a free R-factor of 23.3%. Like MnSODs of other eukaryotic organisms, A. fumigatus MnSOD forms a homotetramer with the manganese ions coordinated by three histidines, one aspartic acid, and one water molecule. The fungal and the human MnSOD share high similarity on the level of both primary and tertiary structure. We identified conserved amino acids that are solvent exposed in the fungal and the human crystal structure and are therefore potentially involved in IgE-mediated cross-reactivity.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research, Obere Strasse 22, CH-7270 Davos, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flückiger
authors.forename: Peer R E
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Mittl
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scapozza
authors.forename: Helmi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fijten
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Folkers
authors.forename: Markus G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Grütter
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blaser
authors.forename: Reto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crameri
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D037502:Galectin 3; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D008345:Manganese / Q000737:chemistry*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D037502:Galectin 3; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D008345:Manganese; C115317:Asp f 6 allergen; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase