How reliable is the structural prediction of IgE-binding epitopes of allergens? The case study of plant lipid transfer proteins.
The linear IgE-binding epitopes of non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTP) from plants were predicted using a combination of predictive tools including (1) the hydropathic profiles based on different scales of hydrophilicity, flexibility and exposure to the solvent, (2) the hydrophobic cluster analysis plots, (3) the occurrence of charged residues in the predicted amino acid sequence stretches and, (4) the exposition of the predicted linear IgE-binding epitopes checked on the three-dimensional models built for the nsLTP. A reliable prediction was obtained for nsLTP as compared with the previously characterized IgE-binding epitopes of various proteins. A consensual IgE-binding epitope occurring in other plant nsLTP and responsible for some IgE-binding cross-reactivity among fruit nsLTP has been identified and characterized. Despite some discrepancies, a fairly good prediction resulted in applying our combination of predictive methods to longer nsLTP or plant profilins.
Borges
Jean-Philippe
JP
UMR-CNRS 5546, Pôle de Biotechnologie végétale, 24 Chemin de Borde Rouge, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France.
Barre
Annick
A
Culerrier
Raphaël
R
Archimbaud
Nicolas
N
Didier
Alain
A
Rougé
Pierre
P
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D010940:Plant Proteins; C511920:lipid transfer proteins, plant; D007073:Immunoglobulin E