title: Conformational stability of digestion-resistant peptides of peanut conglutins reveals the molecular basis of their allergenicity.
abstract: Conglutins represent the major peanut allergens and are renowned for their resistance to gastro-intestinal digestion. Our aim was to characterize the digestion-resistant peptides (DRPs) of conglutins by biochemical and biophysical methods followed by a molecular dynamics simulation in order to better understand the molecular basis of food protein allergenicity. We have mapped proteolysis sites at the N- and C-termini and at a limited internal segment, while other potential proteolysis sites remained unaffected. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that proteolysis only occurred in the vibrant regions of the proteins. DRPs appeared to be conformationally stable as intact conglutins. Also, the overall secondary structure and IgE-binding potency of DRPs was comparable to that of intact conglutins. The stability of conglutins toward gastro-intestinal digestion, combined with the conformational stability of the resulting DRPs provide conditions for optimal exposure to the intestinal immune system, providing an explanation for the extraordinary allergenicity of peanut conglutins.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Danijela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Apostolovic
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stanic-Vucinic
authors.affiliation: TI Food and Nutrition, P.O. Box 557, 6700 AN Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Harmen H J
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: de Jongh
authors.affiliation: TNO, Utrechtseweg 48, 3704 HE, Zeist, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Govardus A H
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mihailovic
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radosavljevic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy - Center of Chemistry, Njegoseva 12, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radibratovic
authors.affiliation: Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, University of Nebraska, 279 Food Innovation Center, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-6207, USA.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nordlee
authors.affiliation: Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, University of Nebraska, 279 Food Innovation Center, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-6207, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Baumert
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milcic
authors.affiliation: Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, University of Nebraska, 279 Food Innovation Center, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-6207, USA.
authors.forename: Steve L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: TI Food and Nutrition, P.O. Box 557, 6700 AN Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garrido Clua
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cirkovic Velickovic
authors.affiliation: Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, University of Nebraska, 279 Food Innovation Center, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-6207, USA.
authors.forename: Stef J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Koppelman
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010367:Arachis / Q000737:chemistry*; D001669:Biochemical Phenomena; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D059748:Proteolysis; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E