title: Isolation and characterization of native Cry j 3 from Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollinosis is the most prevalent allergy in Japan. Recently, the Japanese cedar pollen allergen Cry j 3 was cloned as a homologue of Jun a 3, which is a major allergen from mountain cedar (Juniperus ashei) pollen. However, native Cry j 3 has not been isolated and there are no reports on its allergenic activity. The aims of this study were to isolate native Cry j 3 and assess its immunoglobulin E (IgE)-binding capacity in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Native Cry j 3 was purified from Japanese cedar pollen by multidimensional chromatography. We assessed the IgE-binding capacity using sera from patients allergic to Japanese cedar pollen by immunoblot analysis and ELISA. Moreover, we assayed the capacity of Cry j 3 to induce histamine release from the patients' leukocytes. We cloned cDNA corresponding to purified Cry j 3 from a cDNA library of Japanese cedar pollen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We isolated native Cry j 3 as a 27-kDa protein. The IgE-binding frequency of Cry j 3 from the sera of patients allergic to Japanese cedar pollen was estimated as 27% (27/100) by ELISA. Cry j 3 induced the release of histamine from leukocytes. We cloned the cDNA and named it Cry j 3.8. Cry j 3.8 cDNA encoded 225 amino acids and had significant homology with thaumatin-like proteins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cry j 3 is a causative allergen in Japanese cedar pollinosis and may play crucial roles in the cross-reactivity with oral allergy syndrome.
authors: Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Fujimura
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Futamura
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Midoro-Horiuti
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Togawa
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Goldblum
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Yasueda
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Saito
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Shinohara
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Masuda
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kurata
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Sakaguchi
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D052179:Antigens, Plant; C518869:Cry j 3 allergen, Cryptomeria japonica; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D007073:Immunoglobulin E