Primary structure of potential allergenic proteins in emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) egg white.
The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) egg is considered promising as an alternative egg product. To obtain basic biochemical information on emu egg white, the major protein compositions in emu and chicken egg whites and the primary structures of potential allergenic proteins were compared. The dominant protein in emu egg white was ovotransferrin (OVT), followed by ovalbumin (OVA) and TENP protein. The OVA and ovomucoid (OVM) levels in emu egg white were estimated as significantly lower than those in chicken egg white by Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using anti-chicken OVA or OVM antibodies. Lysozyme and its enzymatic activity were not detected in emu egg white. OVT, OVA, and OVM genes were also cloned, and their nucleotide and amino acid sequences were determined. The protein sequences of OVT, OVA, and OVM from emu showed lower similarities to those of chicken than other avian species, such as quail and turkey. These results emphasize the low allergenicity of emu egg white and its potential as an alternative to chicken egg white.
Department of Fermentation Science.
Kenji
K
Maehashi
Mami
M
Matano
Tomohiro
T
Irisawa
Masataka
M
Uchino
Yasuharu
Y
Itagaki
Katsumi
K
Takano
Yutaka
Y
Kashiwagi
Toshihiro
T
Watanabe
D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003207:Conalbumin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020312:Dromaiidae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004529:Egg White / Q000737:chemistry*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010059:Ovomucin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D000485:Allergens; D003207:Conalbumin; D010059:Ovomucin; D010047:Ovalbumin