title: The major allergen from birch tree pollen, Bet v 1, binds and permeabilizes membranes.
abstract: The 159 residue Bet v 1 is the major allergen from birch tree pollen. Its natural function is unknown although it is capable of binding several types of physiologically relevant ligands in a centrally placed cavity in the protein structure. Here we use circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy to show that Bet v 1 binds to DOPC and DOPG phospholipid vesicles in a pH-dependent manner. Binding is facilitated by low pH, negatively charged phospholipids, and high vesicle curvature, indicating that electrostatic interactions and vesicle surface defects are important parameters for binding. Binding is accompanied by major structural rearrangements, involving an increase in alpha-helical structure and a decrease in beta-structure. A bilayer structure per se is not a prerequisite for these rearrangements, since they also occur in the presence of the micelle-forming lysophospholipids lysoMPC and lysoMPG. Two major bound states (A and B) with distinct secondary structure compositions were identified, which predominate in the pH ranges approximately 9.5-6.5 and approximately 5-2.5, respectively. Despite the high content of secondary structure, the A- and B-states are partially unfolded as they unfold noncooperatively in CD thermal scans, in contrast to the native state. In addition, the B-state (but not the A-state) shows intermediate proteolysis-resistance and is able to induce complete leakage of calcein from the vesicles, indicating that this state is partially inserted into and significantly perturbs the bilayer structure. We conclude that Bet v 1 is a membrane binding protein, highlighting a possible biological function of this protein.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Insoluble Protein Structures (inSPIN) at Department of Life Sciences, Aalborg University, Sohngaardsholmsvej 49, DK-9000 Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jesper E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mogensen
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferreras
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wimmer
authors.forename: Steen V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Jan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Enghild
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Otzen
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D029662:Betula / Q000737:chemistry; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D003902:Detergents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D008823:Micelles; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003902:Detergents; D005960:Glucosides; D008081:Liposomes; C095551:MALD1 protein, Malus domestica; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008823:Micelles; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010940:Plant Proteins; C105684:STARD3 protein, human; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes; C040358:dodecyl maltoside; C017251:1,2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine