title: Fra a 1.02 Is the Most Potent Isoform of the Bet v 1-like Allergen in Strawberry Fruit.
abstract: The strawberry fruit proteins Fra a 1.01E-1.08 are homologues of the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1. Three of the proteins are known to have essential biological functions in pigment formation during fruit ripening and seem to be responsible for allergic reactions to strawberry fruit. We evaluated the cross-reactive allergenic potential of these putative strawberry allergens in patients allergic to birch pollen. Activation of basophils of eight atopic patients was studied using different concentrations of Fra a 1 isoforms. Bet v 1a was used as control and as atopic patient selection criterion. Although Fra a 1.01E-1.08 have amino acid sequence identities of 74.5-97.5% with Fra a 1.02, the basophil activation mediated by the eight Fra a 1 proteins differed substantially. Fra a 1.03 and Fra a 1.02 showed the highest activation of basophils, 73 and 66% of total basophils, respectively. On the basis of the high relative expression of the gene Fra a 1.02 in ripe strawberry fruits of allergenic varieties, Fra a 1.02 was identified as the main strawberry allergen of the Bet v 1 superfamily. Knowledge of the allergenic potential of Fra a 1.02/1.03 will help to improve food safety and can serve as a valuable marker for the development of red-fruited hypoallergenic strawberry cultivars.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology of Natural Products, Technische Universität München , Freising, Germany.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Franz-Oberdorf
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München , München, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eberlein
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology of Natural Products, Technische Universität München , Freising, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Edelmann
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology of Natural Products, Technische Universität München , Freising, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hücherig
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology of Natural Products, Technische Universität München , Freising, Germany.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Besbes
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München , München, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Darsow
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München , München, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ring
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology of Natural Products, Technische Universität München , Freising, Germany.
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schwab
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D031985:Fragaria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012882:Skin Tests; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C501561:Bet v 1 protein, Fragaria; C517508:Fra a 1 allergen, Fragaria ananassa; D010940:Plant Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Bet v 1-like strawberry allergen; Fragaria × ananassa; allergen; basophil activation test (BAT); flow cytometry