title: Tropomyosin and Actin Identified as Major Allergens of the Carpet Clam (Paphia textile) and the Effect of Cooking on Their Allergenicity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the major allergenic proteins of clam (Paphia textile) and to investigate the effect of different cooking methods on the allergenicity of these identified proteins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clam protein extracts were separated by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. IgE reactive proteins were then analyzed by immunoblotting with sera from patients with positive skin prick tests (SPT) to the raw clam extract. Mass spectrometry was used to identify the major allergenic proteins of this clam.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Raw extract showed 12 protein bands (18-150 kDa). In contrast, fewer protein bands were seen in the boiled extract; those ranging from 40 to 150 kDa were denatured. The protein profiles were similarly altered by frying or roasting. The immunoblots of raw and boiled extracts yielded 10 and 2 IgE-binding proteins, respectively. The fried and roasted extracts showed only a single IgE-binding protein at 37 kDa. Mass spectrometry analysis of the 37 and 42 kDa major allergens indicated that these spots were tropomyosin and actin, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The two major allergens of Paphia textile were identified as the thermostable tropomyosin and a new thermolabile allergen actin.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Immunology Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, 35900 Tanjong Malim, Perak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zailatul Hani
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Mohamad Yadzir
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, 35900 Tanjong Malim, Perak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rosmilah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Misnan
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Immunology Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Faizal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bakhtiar
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Immunology Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Noormalin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Immunology Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shahnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murad
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D003296:Cooking / Q000379:methods*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D014335:Tropomyosin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000485:Allergens; D014335:Tropomyosin