title: Identification and molecular characterization of the cDNA encoding Cucumis melo allergen, Cuc m 3, a plant pathogenesis-related protein.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melon (Cucumis melo) allergy is one of the most common food allergies, characterized by oral allergy syndrome. To date, two allergen molecules, Cuc m 1 and Cuc m 2, have been fully characterized in melon pulp, but there are few reports about the molecular characteristics of Cuc m 3.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Cuc m 3 cDNA has been characterized by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), which revealed a 456 base-pair (bp) fragment encoding a 151-amino acid polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 16.97 kDa, and identified 79 and 178 bp untranslated sequences at the 5' and 3´ ends, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In silico analysis showed strong similarities between Cuc m 3 and other plant pathogen-related protein 1s from cucumber, grape, bell pepper, and tomato.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Here we report the identification and characterization of the Cuc m 3 cDNA, which will be utilized for further analyses of structural and allergenic features of this allergen.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Center, Medical School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sankian
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Center, Medical School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Jafar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hajavi
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Center, Medical School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Malihe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moghadam
authors.affiliation: Allergy Research Center, Medical School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdol-Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Varasteh
keywords: Cuc m 3; Melon; allergen; plant pathogenesis-related protein 1