Can we explain the allergenicity of peanuts on the basis of the three-dimensional structure of its allergens and use the information to devise means of eliminating peanut allergy?
Helical bundles are found in all the known structures of peanut allergens. The peptide fragments, which survive gastrointestinal digestion of the allergens and are absorbed intact, are hypothesized to reassociate and form stable helical bundles in the circulation, which could elicit a specific IgE response resulting in peanut allergy. The hypothesis is supported by the finding of a diminished allergenicity of an isoform of the peanut allergen, Ara h 3, which has a major deletion. A very probable consequence of this deletion is the reduced tendency to form a stable helix bundle. The discovery of structurally disrupted isoforms of the other peanut allergens and the breeding of plants that contain only those isoforms could lead to the elimination of peanut allergy.
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Allergy/Immunology/Immunizations Service, 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20889-5600, USA. cecilia.mikita@med.navy.mil
Cecilia P
CP
Mikita
Eduardo A
EA
Padlan
D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D010367:Arachis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015394:Molecular Structure; D021183:Peanut Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D000485:Allergens