title: Molecular cloning and characterization of Cup a 4, a new allergen from Cupressus arizonica.
abstract: Sensitization to Cupressaceae pollen has become one of the most important causes of pollinosis in Western countries during winter and early spring. However, the characterization of the extracts, the allergens involved and the cross-reactivity with other pollen sources still remain poorly studied; in the case of Cupressus arizonica only two allergens have been described so far. A new allergen from C. arizonica pollen, Cup a 4, was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli as an N-terminally His-tag recombinant protein that was characterized biochemically, immunologically and by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The new allergen has high sequence identity with Prickly Juniper allergen Jun o 4 and contains four EF-hand domains. The recombinant protein has structural similarities with other calcium binding allergens such as Ole e 3, Ole e 8 and Phl p 7. Cup a 4 is expressed in mature pollen grains and shares antigenic properties with the recombinant form. Sera from 9.6% C. arizonica allergic patients contain specific IgE antibodies against recombinant Cup a 4.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. ypico@cbm.uam.es
authors.forename: Yago
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pico de Coaña
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parody
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Fuertes
authors.forename: Jerónimo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carnés
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roncarolo
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ariano
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sastre
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mistrello
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alonso
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D029781:Cupressus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011058:Pollen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D052179:Antigens, Plant; D007106:Immune Sera; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E