Lorenz et al. (2001) summary

Internet Symposium on Food Allergens 3(1):1-36 (2001) http://www.food-allergens.de

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Review:
IgE-Binding Properties of Recombinant Food Allergens

Anne-Regine LORENZ, Dieter HAUSTEIN, Stefan VIETHS

Department of Allergology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

Recombinant DNA technology is a common procedure to produce allergenic proteins in vitro. To date, more than 40 food allergens from fruits, vegetables, nuts, milk and seafood have been expressed as recombinant proteins. Since recombinant proteins can be produced in large quantities and in controlled quality, they promise to be suitable tools for precise diagnostics and research applications. "Hypoallergenic" variants of these molecules with reduced or abolished IgE-binding activity may be candidates for immunotherapy of food allergies. Comparative investigations of recombinant food allergens and their natural counterparts may offer new insights into the structural basis of allergenicity. This review provides a collection of data on recombinant food allergens and the spectrum of IgE-binding assays with which they have been tested. In addition, possible structural differences between natural and recombinant food allergens are considered and future diagnostic and therapeutic applications of recombinant food allergens are discussed.
recombinant allergen,
food allergy,
IgE-binding activity, post-translational modifications,
extracts,
expression system,
diagnosis,
immunotherapy

Anne-Regine Lorenz

Stefan Vieths

Correspondence:
PD Dr.Stefan Vieths
Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Department of Allergology
Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 51-59
D-63225 Langen, Germany
Phone: +49-(0) 6103-772256
Fax: +49-(0) 6103-771258
eMail: viest@pei.de

Contents

1		Introduction
2		Possible Structural Differences Between Natural and Recombinant Food Allergens
		2.1Post-Translational Modifications
		2.2Tertiary Structure
		2.3Codon Usage
		2.4Technical Reasons Leading to Altered Structures
3		IgE-Binding Activity of Recombinant Food Allergens
4		Applications of Recombinant Food Allergens
		4.1Diagnostics
		4.2Therapy
		4.3Research
5		Conclusions
6		References

		Table 1: List of Recombinant Food Allergens
		Table 2: IgE-Binding Activity of Recombinant Food Allergens

Abbreviations:

CCD cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants

DBPCFC double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge

DTT dithiothreitol

FEIA fluorescence enzyme immunoassay

GST glutathione-S-transferase

HPS hydrophobic protein of soybean

LTP lipid transfer protein

NMR nuclear magnetic resonance

SPT skin prick test

RAST radioallergosorbent test

CCD	cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants
DBPCFC	double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge
DTT	dithiothreitol
FEIA	fluorescence enzyme immunoassay
GST	glutathione-S-transferase
HPS	hydrophobic protein of soybean
LTP	lipid transfer protein
NMR	nuclear magnetic resonance
SPT	skin prick test
RAST	radioallergosorbent test