Cloning and characterization of an 11S legumin, Car i 4, a major allergen in pecan

Among tree nut allergens, pecan allergens remain to be identified and characterized. The objective was to demonstrate the IgE-binding ability of pecan 11S legumin and characterize its sequential IgE-binding epitopes. The 11S legumin gene was amplified from a pecan cDNA library and expressed as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli. The native 11S legumin in pecan extract was identified by mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Sequential epitopes were determined by probing the overlapping peptides with three serum pools prepared from different patients' sera. A three-dimensional model was generated using almond legumin as a template and compared with known sequential epitopes on other allergenic tree nut homologues. Of 28 patients tested by dot blot, 16 (57%) bound to 11S legumin, designated Car i 4. MS/MS sequencing of native 11S legumin identified 33 kDa acidic and 20-22 kDa basic subunits. Both pecan and walnut seed protein extracts inhibited IgE binding to recombinant Car i 4, suggesting cross-reactivity with Jug r 4. Sequential epitope mapping results of Car i 4 revealed weak, moderate, and strong reactivity of serum pools against 10, 5, and 4 peptides, respectively. Seven peptides were recognized by all three serum pools, of which two were strongly reactive. The strongly reactive peptides were located in three discrete regions of the Car i 4 acidic subunit sequence (residues 118-132, 208-219, and 238-249). Homology modeling of Car i 4 revealed significant overlapping regions shared in common with other tree nut legumins.     

Characterization of the soluble allergenic proteins of cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale L.)

The allergens associated with cashew food allergy have not been well-characterized. We sought to identify the major allergens in cashew nut by performing IgE immunoblots to dissociated and reduced or nonreduced cashew protein extracts, followed by sequencing of the peptides of interest. Sera from 15 subjects with life-threatening reactions to cashews and 8 subjects who tolerate cashews but have life-threatening reactions to other tree nuts were compared. An aqueous cashew protein extract containing albumin/globulin was separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and subjected to IgE immunoblotting using patient sera. Selected IgE reactive bands were subjected to N-terminal amino acid sequencing. Each of the 15 sera from cashew-allergic subjects showed IgE binding to the cashew protein extract. The dominant IgE-binding antigens in the reduced preparations included peptides in the 31-35 kD range, consistent with the large subunits of the major storage 13S globulin (legumin-like protein). Low-molecular-weight polypeptides of the 2S albumin family, with similarity to the major walnut allergen Jug r 1, also bound IgE. The sera from eight patients who tolerate cashew but displayed allergies to other tree nuts showed only minimal or no IgE binding to cashew. Cashew food allergy is associated with the presence of IgE directed against the major seed storage proteins in cashew, including the 13S globulin (legumin group) and 2S albumins, both of which represent major allergen classes in several plant seeds. Thus, the legumin-group proteins and 2S albumins are again identified as major food allergens, which will help further research into seed protein allergenicity.     

Immunoglobulin E-reactive proteins in cashew (Anacardium occidentale) apple juice concentrate

Cashew apple juice has the potential to be a natural source of vitamin C and sugar in processed foods. The juice of the cashew apple is obtained by pressing the fleshy peduncle or receptacle, which forms a rounded apple that sits above the true fruit, the cashew nut. Cashew nut allergy is the second most commonly reported tree nut allergy in the United States. To determine if cashew apple juice contains cashew nut allergens, immunoblotting was performed using a cashew apple juice 6X concentrate that was extracted and further concentrated through dialysis, lyophilization, and resuspension. Serum IgE of individuals allergic to cashew nut bound proteins in the cashew apple juice concentrate extract. For some serum samples, IgE reactivity could be inhibited by preincubation of the serum with cashew nut extract, suggesting the presence of cashew nut-related allergens. Using monoclonal antibodies specific for cashew nut allergens, the concentrate was found to contain Ana o 1 (vicilin) and Ana o 2 (legumin). Neither IgE from cashew nut allergic sera nor the monoclonal antibodies bound any peptides in 5 kDa filtered cashew apple juice concentrate. The cashew apple juice concentrate used in these studies contains proteins with IgE-reactive epitopes, including cashew nut legumin and vicilin. No IgE-binding peptides remained after 5 kDa filtration of the concentrate.     

A sensitive sandwich ELISA for the detection of trace amounts of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut in foods

Trace amounts of cashew nut protein can provoke severe allergic reactions in sensitive patients. Consequently, commercial food processors and regulatory agencies must be vigilant to prevent cashew nut cross-contamination among foods and ensure proper labeling. Toward this end, we have developed a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) to detect the predominant cashew protein fraction (anacardein or cashew major protein, CMP) that can be extracted in aqueous buffer from food matrixes. Protein G-purified goat antiwhole cashew extract IgG and rabbit anti-CMP IgG were used as capture and secondary antibodies, respectively. Immunoadsorption against several nut and seed proteins significantly minimized the inherent cross-reactivity of these reagents. Food samples spiked with cashew flour and CMP were extracted and tested in a sandwich ELISA where standard curves were based on reactivity with CMP. The assay was optimized to detect as little as 20 ng/mL (0.02 ppm) of CMP and was successfully used to quantify CMP, and thus cashew, in various food matrixes.     

A novel approach for the detection of potentially hazardous pepsin stable hazelnut proteins as contaminants in chocolate-based food

Contamination of food products with pepsin resistant allergens is generally believed to be a serious threat to patients with severe food allergy. A sandwich type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to measure pepsin resistant hazelnut protein in food products. Capturing and detecting rabbit antibodies were raised against pepsin-digested hazelnut and untreated hazelnut protein, respectively. The assay showed a detection limit of 0.7 ng/mL hazelnut protein or <1 microg hazelnut in 1 g food matrix and a maximum of 0.034% cross-reactivity (peanut). Chocolate samples spiked with 0.5-100 microg hazelnut/g chocolate showed a mean recovery of 97.3%. In 9/12 food products labeled "may contain nuts", hazelnut was detected between 1.2 and 417 microg hazelnut/g food. It can be concluded that the application of antibodies directed to pepsin-digested food extracts in ELISA can facilitate specific detection of stable proteins that have the highest potential of inducing severe food anaphylaxis.     

Cloning and characterization of 2S albumin, Car i 1, a major allergen in pecan

Although pecans are associated with IgE-mediated food allergies, the allergens responsible remain to be identified and characterized. The 2S albumin gene was amplified from the pecan cDNA library. Dot-blots were used to screen the recombinant protein with pecan allergic patients' serum. The affinity purified native protein was analyzed by Edman sequencing and mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis. Cross-reactivity with walnut was determined by inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sequential epitopes were determined by probing the overlapping peptides with three different patients' serum pool. The 3-dimensional homology model was generated, and the locations of the pecan epitopes were compared with those of known sequential epitopes on other allergenic tree nut homologues. Of 28 patients tested by dot-blot, 22 (79%) bound to 2S albumin, designated as Car i 1. Edman sequencing and the MS/MS sequencing of native 2S albumin confirmed the identity of recombinant (r) Car i 1. Both pecan and walnut protein extracts inhibited the IgE-binding to rCar i 1. Sequential epitope mapping indicated weak, moderate, and strong reactivity against 12, 7, and 5 peptides, respectively. Of the 11 peptides recognized by all serum pools, 5 peptides were strongly reactive and located in 3 discrete regions of the Car i 1 (amino acids 43-57, 67-78, and 106-120). Three-dimensional modeling revealed IgE-reactive epitopes to be solvent accessible and share significant homology with other tree nuts providing a possible basis for previously observed cross-reactivity.     

GDA2基因的克隆、原核表达与融合蛋白的纯化

摘要：GDA2（G2 pea dark accumulated gene）是与G2豌豆（Pisum sativum L.）短日照条件下不衰老现象紧密相关的基因之一。实验用cDNA差示分析法（representational difference analysis, RDA）得到一个短日照下特异表达的G2豌豆cDNA，并命名为 GDA2。核酸序列分析表明，该cDNA全长1 120 bp，最大的开放阅读框为642 bp，编码一个由213个氨基酸构成的分子量约为24 kD的蛋白质，与GDA1的同源性为36%。在GDA2的cDNA两端分别引入Bgl Ⅱ与XhoⅠ的酶切位点，用PCR方法将其克隆到原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1中，经过酶切筛选和测序鉴定，得到所需的表达载体pGEX-GDA2。将pGEX-GDA2导入E.coli BL21菌株，经IPTG诱导，得到分子量约51 kD的 GST-GDA2融合蛋白，并利用Glutathione Sepharose 4B亲和柱对该融合蛋白加以纯化。GDA2-GST融合蛋白的表达和纯化工作，为深入研究GDA2蛋白的结构与功能以及该基因同衰老的关系打下良好的基础。     

A 50 kDa maize gamma-zein has marked cross-reactivity with the almond major protein

Cross-reactivity of antibodies against almond major protein (AMP, a legumin), the major almond allergen, with cereal proteins may cause problems in detecting almond contaminants in cereal products when antibody-based assays are used. Rabbit polyclonal IgG antiserum produced against AMP was used to test cross-reactivity with protein extracts from maize, a cereal commonly found in breakfast and snack foods. Gradient SDS-PAGE followed by Western blotting was performed, and two cross-reactive proteins were detected by chemiluminescence. A fraction of maize proteins purified by elution from an IgG anti-AMP affinity column followed by electrophoreseis and immunoblotting showed a high degree of cross-reactivity with a minor 50 kDa protein of maize, as well as low cross-reactivity with the 27 kDa gamma-zein. The 50 kDa cross-reactive protein was identified as the 50 kDa gamma-zein by immunoreaction with anti-50 kDa gamma-zein antiserum. Notably, the 50 kDa maize gamma-zein also reacted with IgE from pooled human sera from patients with self-reported severe almond allergies. The high immunoreactivity of the 50 kDa gamma-zein should be considered in maize quality improvement programs, and such notable cross-reactivity is of relevance in the design of antibody-based assays for almond allergen detection.     

Determination of epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine in fresh food products.

epsilon-N-Pyrrolylnorleucine was determined in different fresh food products to study its presence as a normal component of food proteins. Twenty-two different products were screened: cod, cuttlefish, salmon, sardine, trout, beef, chicken, pork, broad bean, broccoli, chickpea, garlic, green pea, lentil, mushroom, soybean, spinach, sunflower, almond, hazelnut, peanut, and walnut. Foods were homogenized, their proteins were precipitated with trichloroacetic acid and hydrolyzed with 2 N NaOH for 20 h, and the epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine content was determined by capillary electrophoresis. The epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine, which was identified by HPLC/MS in sardine muscle hydrolysate, ranged in the 22 foods analyzed from 0.24 to 6.36 micromol/g. This concentration was correlated with the protein content of the food (r = 0.687, p = 0.00041). In addition, the epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine/lysine ratio was found to be a function of the lipid, iron, and protein contents of the food (r = 0.881, p < 0.0001) and was directly correlated with lipid and iron contents and inversely correlated with the protein content. These results are in agreement with the oxidative stress origin proposed for epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine and suggest that the epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine/lysine ratio is a characteristic of each food. In addition, epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine seemed to be a normal component of many fresh food products, in which it may be acting as a natural antioxidant.     

Interaction of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) legumin with oxidized linoleic acid.

Chickpea legumin has been purified and incubated under oxidizing conditions with linoleic acid to investigate the influence of this acid on the structure and nutritional quality of the protein. At the end of the incubation time, >30% of the linoleic acid was oxidized. The oxidized linoleic acid was highly detrimental to legumin, and the electrophoretic pattern of the protein was completely changed after the incubation period. Nevertheless, neither polymerization nor cleavage of the protein was observed as deduced from gel filtration chromatography, suggesting that the changes observed in native electrophoresis were probably due to oxidation of legumin. The incubation of legumin with linoleic acid also produced a diminution of the contents of methionine and histidine, by 81.3 and 24.3%, respectively. Finally, in vitro protein digestibility of chickpea legumin was also seriously affected by the incubation with linoleic acid, decreasing from 84.1 to 69.2%.     

不同品种鲜食核桃冷藏期间呼吸强度及品质变化

为探讨鲜食核桃冷藏期间品质变化规律,在(0±1)℃、相对湿度(RH)70%～80%的贮藏条件下,以辽河4号（L4）、西扶1号（X1）和西扶2 号（X2）核桃品种为试材,采用0.03 mm 厚聚乙烯（PE）袋包装,定期对其相关指标进行测定。结果显示,贮藏初期（15 d）呼吸强度迅速下降,之后维持在低且平稳的水平;3个品种之间水分、脂肪、蛋白质及氨基酸含量均呈现极显著差异;贮藏期间蛋白质含量变化不显著;脂肪、不饱和脂肪酸含量及维生素E含量总体呈现下降趋势;氨基酸含量30 d 时最高,之后保持下降趋势;酸价及过氧化值呈现上升趋势;贮藏中后期（60 d后）酸价、过氧化值、好果率及感官品质急剧下降。结果表明：鲜食核桃贮藏品质受品种影响很大,60 d 为鲜食核桃适宜贮藏期,以L4品质最好。     

Quantitative sandwich ELISA for determination of traces of hazelnut (Corylus avellana) protein in complex food matrixes.

A hazelnut-specific sandwich-type ELISA based on polyclonal antisera was developed for detection of hidden hazelnut protein residues in complex food matrixes. In the absence of a food matrix, extractable protein from different native and toasted hazelnuts was detected at rates of 94 +/- 13 and 96 +/- 7% applying standards prepared from native and toasted hazelnuts, respectively. From complex food matrixes, 0.001-10% of hazelnut was recovered between 67 and 132%, in average by 106 +/- 17%. Depending on the food matrix, hazelnut protein could be detected down to the ppb (ng/g) level. Intraassay precision was <6% for hazelnut >/= 0.001% and interassay precision was <15% for hazelnut >/= 0.01%. In 12 of 28 commercial food products without labeling or declaration of hazelnut components, between 2 and 421 ppm of hazelnut protein was detected, demonstrating a remarkable presence of potentially allergenic hazelnut protein "hidden" in commercial food products.     

Chemical composition of selected edible nut seeds

Commercially important edible nut seeds were analyzed for chemical composition and moisture sorption. Moisture (1.47-9.51%), protein (7.50-21.56%), lipid (42.88-66.71%), ash (1.16-3.28%), total soluble sugars (0.55-3.96%), tannins (0.01-0.88%), and phytate (0.15-0.35%) contents varied considerably. Regardless of the seed type, lipids were mainly composed of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (>75% of the total lipids). Fatty acid composition analysis indicated that oleic acid (C18:1) was the main constituent of monounsaturated lipids in all seed samples. With the exception of macadamia, linoleic acid (C18:2) was the major polyunsaturated fatty acid. In the case of walnuts, in addition to linoleic acid (59.79%) linolenic acid (C18:3) also significantly contributed toward the total polyunsaturated lipids. Amino acid composition analyses indicated lysine (Brazil nut, cashew nut, hazelnut, pine nut, and walnut), sulfur amino acids methionine and cysteine (almond), tryptophan (macadamia, pecan), and threonine (peanut) to be the first limiting amino acid as compared to human (2-5 year old) amino acid requirements. The amino acid composition of the seeds was characterized by the dominance of hydrophobic (range = 37.16-44.54%) and acidic (27.95-33.17%) amino acids followed by basic (16.16-21.17%) and hydrophilic (8.48-11.74%) amino acids. Trypsin inhibitory activity, hemagglutinating activity, and proteolytic activity were not detected in the nut seed samples analyzed. Sorption isotherms (Aw range = 0.08-0.97) indicated a narrow range for monolayer water content (11-29 mg/g of dry matter). No visible mold growth was evident on any of the samples stored at Aw < 0.53 and 25 degrees C for 6 months.     

牛杀菌/通透性增加蛋白氮端片段的原核表达

目的 克隆牛杀菌/通透性增强蛋白(BPI)N端cDNA,构建原核表达载体,在大肠杆菌中表达BPI蛋白,并纯化重组蛋白。方法 参照Genbank报道的序列,应用RT-PCR技术,从牛嗜中性粒细胞mRNA中扩增出杀菌/通透性增加蛋白基因,然后将该基因插入原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1中,重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21,进行诱导表达。结果 获得BPI N端长度为714 bp的基因片断,序列分析证实该片断中有1个点突变。大肠杆菌中的表达产物为相对分子质量约为52×103的GST-BPI融合蛋白。结论 成功的表达和纯化了BPI重组蛋白。     

Detection of potentially allergenic hazelnut (Corylus avellana) residues in food: a comparative study with DNA PCR-ELISA and protein sandwich-ELISA

Allergen detection is of increasing interest for food labeling purposes. A comparative study with a commercial hazelnut-specific PCR-ELISA and a sandwich-type ELISA detecting hazelnut protein was performed to investigate to what extent immunochemical and DNA-based techniques would correlate in the detection of trace amounts of potentially allergenic hazelnut residues. Both methods were highly sensitive and allowed the detection of even <10 ppm of hazelnut in complex food matrixes. The protein-ELISA was highly specific for hazelnut. However, some foods could lead to false-positive results at the 10 ppm level. The PCR-ELISA did not show any cross-reactions with non-hazelnut foods, thus reducing the probability of having false positives at the trace level. Forty-one commercial food products with and without hazelnut components on their labels were analyzed for the presence of hazelnut. Of the 27 products in which hazelnut components were detected, two samples were not identified by the protein-ELISA, and only one sample, namely one white chocolate having <1 ppm of hazelnut protein, was not detected by PCR-ELISA. The good correlation of the results of PCR-ELISA and protein-ELISA suggested that both PCR-based and immunochemical techniques are suitable for reliable detection of potentially allergenic hazelnut residues in foods at the trace level.     

Vicilin-like storage globulin from buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) seeds

An 8S storage globulin from buckwheat seed, which resembles the structure and features common to the vicilin-like family of seed storage proteins, was analyzed for this paper. It was found that expression of the 8S globulin gene precedes that of the 13S globulin (the main buckwheat storage protein) and starts from an early stage of buckwheat seed development (9-11 days after flowering), continuing to accumulate throughout seed development to contribute approximately 7% of total seed proteins. This protein fraction might be more interesting for biotechnological application than the 13S buckwheat legumin consisting of 23-25 kDa subunits reported to be the major buckwheat allergen. A partial cDNA was also isolated, showing high homology with cDNAs coding for vicilin-like storage proteins from various plant species, and its expression profile throughout seed development as well as in different buckwheat tissues was analyzed.     

海洋双RNA病毒(MABV)vp2e和vp3基因在昆虫细胞中的高效表达

海洋双RNA病毒(Marinebirnavirus,MABV)可引起多种海洋鱼贝的腹水病等病症。利用RT-PCR技术得到了MABVY-6株系A片段的cDNA,进而克隆了病毒的外壳蛋白VP2e的抗原决定簇区642bp片段(vp2e)和另一结构蛋白VP3编码区序列。通过转座作用构建了重组杆状病毒表达载体,在昆虫细胞中对VP2e和VP3进行了表达。SDS-PAGE检测和薄层扫描表明,VP2e和VP3与增强型绿色荧光蛋白(enhancedgreenfluorescenceprotein,EGFP)融合蛋白表达量分别占整个昆虫细胞蛋白的15.8%和8.2%。用HisTag单抗和MABV病毒多抗对表达的VP2e融合蛋白进行Westernblot检测,结果表明表达产物具有很好的抗原性。同样,用HisTag单抗和VP3多抗对表达的VP3融合蛋白进行的Westernblot检测,证明融合蛋白表达正确,并且表达产物可溶,易于纯化。实验结果为该病毒结构蛋白和MABV疫苗研究提供了基础。     

平榛ChWRKY1转录因子的克隆及表达模式分析

根据平榛花芽转录本高通量测序的结果,采用RACE-PCR法克隆到1个平榛WRKY基因,全长1273bp,推断其编码317个氨基酸,命名为ChWRKY1。序列分析表明,该蛋白属于WRKY家族第2类成员,只含有1个WRKY结构域,锌指结构为C-X5-C-X23-H-X1-H,构建的系统发育树结果表明,它与杨树PtWRKY5、葡萄VvWRKY4的亲缘关系较近,相似性分别为69%和64%。采用qRT-PCR,以Actin为内参对ChWRKY1基因在自然条件下花芽部位的表达模式进行分析,结果显示在自然条件下12月份达到最高的表达量,随后表达量呈现下降的趋势;对平榛根蘖苗进行4℃低温胁迫处理,叶片中ChWRKY1基因快速上调表达,4h达到最大表达量,表明该基因可能参与平榛对低温胁迫的早期应答反应;冬季(1月份)ChWRKY1基因在韧皮部中的表达高于花芽和雄花序,具有组织表达特异性。     

人胰腺激肽释放酶cDNA的克隆、序列分析和原核表达

摘要: 为了研制人激肽释放酶（KLK1）特异单克隆抗体和进行重组酶的鉴定及纯化，根据已发表的人KLK1序列设计引物，用PCR扩增法从人胰腺单链cDNA库中特异地扩增出KLK1 cDNA。将其克隆入pGEM-T载体中,对5个重组质粒进行了序列测定，其中1个cDNA克隆的核苷酸序列与已发表的人肾/胰/唾液腺KLK1 cDNAs序列完全相同或有3个核苷酸差异。将去除信号肽序列的KLK1 cDNA以正确阅读框插入表达载体pGEX-4T-3,构建成重组质粒pGEX-KLK1。此重组质粒转化的E.coli 经IPTG诱导后表达分子量为48 kDGST-KLK1融合蛋白，表达产物主要以不溶性包涵体形式存在，可溶性部分能被Glutathione Sepharose 4B特异吸附，两者都能被GST特异单克隆抗体识别。用SDS-PAGE分离纯化的融合蛋白免疫小鼠，获得的抗血清的ELISA效价为1∶1600。结果表明，克隆的人KLK1 cDNA及其表达产物是正确的，可以用于人KLK1单克隆抗体的制备。     

Development of a stable isotope dilution assay for the quantification of 5-methyl-(E)-2-hepten-4-one: application to hazelnut oils and hazelnuts.

A stable isotope dilution assay was developed for the quantitation of the hazelnut odorant 5-methyl-(E)-2-hepten-4-one by mass chromatography using synthesized [(2)H](2)-5-methyl-(E)-2-hepten-4-one as the internal standard. Application of the method on two batches of commercial hazelnut oils, processed from either roasted or unroasted nuts, revealed 6.4 microg 5-methyl-(E)-2-hepten-4-one per kg of unroasted oil whereas 315.8 microg per kg was determined in the roasted nut oil. The about 50-fold higher amount of 5-methyl-(E)-2-hepten-4-one in roasted hazelnut oil suggested the necessity of a thermal treatment to generate the flavor compound. Pan frying of raw hazelnuts (9 to 15 min) or boiling of the crushed nut material for 1 h in water led to an increase of 5-methyl-(E)-2-hepten-4-one by factors of 600 and 800, respectively, thereby corroborating that the major part of the nut flavorant is formed during heat treatment from a yet unknown precursor in hazelnuts.