title: Crosslinking of peanut allergen Ara h 2 by polyphenol oxidase: digestibility and potential allergenicity assessment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peanut is one of the eight major food allergens. Its allergen, Ara h 2, can be recognized by over 90% of serum IgE samples from peanut-allergic patients. Therefore, reducing the allergenicity of Ara h 2 is especially important.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study, polyphenol oxidase (PPO), a protein cross-linking reaction catalyst that acts on tyrosine residue, was used to modify Ara h 2. After crosslinking, the microstructure, digestibility, IgG binding capability and IgE binding capability of Ara h 2 were analyzed. Cross-linking decreased the potential allergenicity of Ara h 2 by masking the allergen epitope, while the antigenicity of Ara h 2 changed slightly. After crosslinking, the apparent diameter of Ara h 2 was altered from 300 to 1700 nm or 220 nm, indicating that polymerization could either be inter- or intramolecular. Regarding digestibility, crosslinked Ara h 2 was relatively more easily digested by gastric fluid compared with the untreated Ara h 2, but much more difficult in the intestinal fluid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The crosslinking reaction catalyzed by PPO, as a non-thermal process, may be beneficial for avoiding food allergy. The reaction could mask allergen epitopes, decreasing the allergenicity of Ara h 2. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, China.|Sino-German Joint Research Institute, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, China.
authors.forename: Zhihua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, China.|Jiangxi Synergy Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Fengxin, 330700, China.
authors.forename: Yuanlong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, China.
authors.forename: Ningling
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, China.|Department of Food Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, China.|Sino-German Joint Research Institute, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, China.
authors.forename: Anshu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, China.|Sino-German Joint Research Institute, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, China.
authors.forename: Hongbing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D055516:2S Albumins, Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010367:Arachis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004156:Catechol Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D004063:Digestion; D000939:Epitopes; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary
chemical_list: D055516:2S Albumins, Plant; D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C500890:Ara h 2 allergen, Arachis hypogaea; D000939:Epitopes; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D004156:Catechol Oxidase
keywords: Ara h 2; allergenicity; antigenicity; cross-linking; digestibility