title: IgE binding synthetic peptides of Alt a 1, a major allergen of Alternaria alternata.
abstract: Alternaria alternata protein, Alt a 1 is a major allergen associated with allergy in atopic patients. Although the molecule binds strongly to IgE antibody from patients, the epitopes involved have not been identified or defined. In the present study, we synthesized overlapping peptides spanning the whole sequence and evaluated their IgE binding with sera from patients with Alternaria-induced allergy. The results identified four IgE binding linear regions. Two of these regions K41-P50 and Y54-K63 showed consistent reactivity with all four patients studied. The specific epitopes involved in the immune response may be of value in the immunodiagnosis and probably also in specific immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Allergy-Immunology Division, Medical College of Wisconsin, 53226, Milwaukee, WI, USA. vkurup@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Viswanath P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Kurup
authors.forename: Hari M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Vijay
authors.forename: Veena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elms
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000528:Alternaria / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C096258:ALTA1 protein, Alternaria alternata; D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D007073:Immunoglobulin E