Summary
In this report the advances made in recent years as a result of application of recombinant DNA and allied technologies in relation to isolation, molecular characterization and synthesis of principal allergens—with particular emphasis on Kentucky Bluegrass (KBG,Poa pratensis) pollen allergens—has been reviewed. Screening of a cDNA library complementary to KBG pollen mRNA led to isolation of several cDNA clones. Hybridization studies using the labelled cDNAs as probes suggested the existence of at least three major classes of clones. The nucleotide sequences of several cDNAs encoding a major group of allergenic proteins were determined. Moreover, one cDNA clone, KBG7.2 was inserted in an expression plasmid to achieve high-level expression of the corresponding peptide. The recombinant peptide was shown to be comparable to its natural counterpart with regard to its ability to bind to human IgE and IgG antibodies of allergic patients, and to elicit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in rats. Furthermore, KBG 7.2 encoded peptide was shown to possess at least two IgE binding epitopes. About four T cell epitopes were predicted on this peptide. The results of these studies suggest that the recombinant allergens and/or allergenic peptides may be of diagnostic and therapeutic value.
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