title: Characterization of a novel allergenic protein from the octocoral Scleronephthya gracillima (Kuekenthal) that corresponds to a new GFP-like family named Akane.
abstract: Certain marine organisms have been known to cause allergic reactions among occupational fishermen. We have previously reported that bronchial asthma among the workers engaged in spiny lobster fishing in Japan was caused by octocorals such as Dendronephthya sp. and Scleronephthya gracillima (previously named Alcyonium gracillimum). Now we have found another octocoral, Scleronephthya gracillima (Kuekenthal), which causes the allergic disease in fishermen. The octocoral was characterized as a new green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like family. The new allergen has a molecular mass of 27 kDa in 1D and 2D SDS-PAGE under reduced conditions. The 27 kDa component was determined to be an allergen by western blotting, ECL immune staining method and absorption of patient sera with the antigen. Furthermore, the combination of analysis with LC-ESI-MS/MS and MASCOT search in the NCBInr database concluded the 27 kDa component had the sequence YPADI/LPDYFK, and that the 22 kDa component had the sequence QSFPEGFSWER, which both matched a GFP-like protein in Acropora aculeus and in Montastraea annularis. Further analysis by MALDI-TOF/MS/MS and MASCOT search in the NCBInr database of all 27 kDa eight spot components from 2D SDS-PAGE indicated that the sequence QSFPEGFSWER also matched as GFP-like protein in Lobophyllia hemprichii and Scleractinia sp. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the new allergenic protein that corresponds to a new GFP-like protein named Akane, and which has fluorescent emissions in the red and green part of the spectra at 628 nm and 508 nm, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Electronics Research Laboratory, Comprehensive Research Organization, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1748-0720
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biosciences, Schools of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jimbo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Applied Biosciences, University of Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Youichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakakibara
authors.affiliation: National Hospital Organization, Miyazaki-Higashi Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Onizuka
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Japan.
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuhashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Environment and Materials Science, Faculty of Engineering, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Japan.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mita
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Environment and Materials Science, Faculty of Engineering, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amada
authors.affiliation: Wakayama Laboratory, Biological Institute on Kuroshio, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukimitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imahara
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Research Center, University of Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kimiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.affiliation: Daiichi University of Pharmacy, Department of Health Science and Hygiene, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biosciences, Schools of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamiya
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D005453:Fluorescence; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
keywords: MALDI-TOF/MS/MS; allergenic protein; new GFP-like protein named Akane; occupational allergy; octocoral