Takeshi Yagami

Plant defense–related enzymes as latex antigens☆☆☆★★★♢

BACKGROUND Latex allergy is an increasing hazard to people who frequently come into contact with latex products. Of interest concerning this immediate-type allergy is the cross-reactivity to various vegetable foods and pollen. Despite its high prevalence, no adequate explanation has been provided for the cross-reactive antigens. OBJECTIVE We have hypothesized that a series of plant defense-related proteins act as latex allergens, as well as vegetable food allergens. To evaluate this hypothesis, hydrolytic enzymes that are very likely to take on defensive roles in rubber trees were examined for their antigenicity. METHODS By applying chromatographic procedures, defense-related enzymes were separated from nonammoniated latex (NAL). Their antigenicity was examined by immunoblotting and ELISA with sera containing IgE antibodies to crude latex proteins. RESULTS Three kinds of hydrolytic enzymes (basic beta-1,3-glucanases [35, 36.5, and 38 kd], a basic chitinase/lysozyme [29.5 kd], and an acidic esterase [44 kd]) were separated from NAL. They were recognized by IgE antibodies from a significant number of patients allergic to latex. The basic beta-1,3-glucanases and the acidic esterase were also strongly recognized by IgE antibodies from several atopic subjects who were allergic to various vegetable foods rather than latex products. CONCLUSION It was ascertained that the three defense-related enzymes separated from NAL constituted part of the latex antigens. Taking together the well-known serologic or immunologic relationships and amino acid sequence similarities of defense-related proteins coming from phylogenetically distant plant species, we can suspect their universal antigenicity and cross-reactivity.

Allergies to Cross-Reactive Plant Proteins Latex-Fruit Syndrome Is Comparable with Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome

Both latex-fruit syndrome and oral allergy syndrome concomitant with pollinosis (pollen-food allergy syndrome) are considered to be caused by cross-reactivity between sensitizers and symptom elicitors. The cross-reactive food allergens relevant to these syndromes are mostly sensitive to heat and digestive enzymes. Such a vulnerable antigen cannot sensitize people perorally but provokes allergic reactions in already sensitized patients based on its cross-reactivity to the corresponding sensitizer. These types of food allergens are often called incomplete food allergens or nonsensitizing elicitors. Their features contrast with those of complete food allergens that have the capacity for peroral sensitization as well as symptom elicitation. Although highly antigenic and cross-reactive, carbohydrate epitopes do not generally elicit allergic reactions and often disturb in vitro IgE tests. Recent research has revealed that some of the cross-reactive allergens responsible for the two syndromes are proteins related to the defense responses of higher plants. Plant defense-related proteins are relatively conserved in the course of evolution and can supply cross-reactive epitopes. It is important to note that various stresses can stimulate the expression of these proteins, which implies that allergens increase in plants under stressful conditions like severe growing situations and exposure to some kinds of chemicals. Because defense-related proteins usually provide a plant with resistance to stresses, varieties that are apt to intensively induce such proteins are agriculturally valuable. Less toxic substances that cause crops to express defensive proteins are being investigated as a new type of agrochemical. Moreover, some defense-related proteins are going to be constantly produced in genetically modified plants. Even though these proteins can be useful agriculturally, their allergenicity should be evaluated carefully.

Elution of bisphenol-A from hemodialyzers consisting of polycarbonate and polysulfone resins

This study deals with bisphenol-A (BPA) analysis of the BPA-derived polymer pellets, polycarbonate (PC) and polysulfone (PS), and in the hemodialyzer casings made of PC, and the leaching of BPA from commercially available hemodialyzers into water and bovine serum, using HPLC, GC-MS, and LC-MS analyses, and NMR spectroscopy. Total contents of BPA in polymer pellets of each resin were 4.0 and 7.2 microg/g (PC) and 34.5 microg/g (PS). Amounts of BPA released from hemodialyzer PC casings lacking PS hollow-fiber were 11.7 and 13.7 ng/casing by water extraction, and 296 and 345 ng/casing by methanol extraction. On the other hand, BPA of 3.78 to 141.8 ng/module was recovered using water circulation of hemodialyzers, and 140.7 to 2,090 ng/module was detected when bovine serum was used as a circulation solvent. The elution profiles using various concentrations of ethanol/water mixtures indicated that a 17.2% (v/v) ethanol solution rather than bovine serum can be used as an extraction solvent, where a similar amount of BPA as with bovine serum circulation was eluted from the hemodialyzer. Thus, this solvent may be useful for evaluating BPA elution from hemodialyers under similar conditions to medical use.

Proteomic Analysis of Putative Latex Allergens

Background: Extensive analysis of allergenic proteins is generally time-consuming and labor-intensive. Accordingly, a rapid and easy procedure for allergen identification is required. As sequence information on proteins and genes is accumulated in databases, it is becoming easier to identify a candidate protein using proteomic strategies, i.e. two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, site-specific fragmentation, mass spectrometry and then database search. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of a proteomic strategy for identifying putative allergens through its application to latex proteins. Methods: Latex proteins were separated with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and putative allergens were visualized by IgE immunoblotting using pooled serum from latex-sensitive patients. The IgE-interactive proteins were cut out from the negatively stained two-dimensional gel and subjected to in-gel digestion by trypsin. Then the resulting peptides were analyzed with mass spectrometry. Based on the mass spectrometric data we obtained, the allergen candidates were assigned by a database search. Results: Five previously reported allergens and five new allergen candidates were identified with the proteomic approach without isolating the individual proteins. Less than 1 mg of crude latex protein was sufficient for the entire protocol. Because plural proteins can be processed in parallel, analysis of about 50 IgE-interactive proteins was accomplished within 1 week. Conclusions: Analysis of putative allergens with proteomic strategies (allergenomics) is a promising avenue for rapid and exhaustive research. The high resolving power of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is superior to conventional gel electrophoresis. Moreover, the notable sensitivity and speed of mass spectrometry have pronounced advantages over the N-terminal sequencing that has generally been used for protein identification.

Significance of Carbohydrate Epitopes in a Latex Allergen with β-1,3-Glucanase Activity

Background: One of the latex allergens, Hev b 2, has β-1,3-glucanase activity. The entire sequence of this allergen is already known. There is one potential N-glycosylation site in this molecule (27Asn). Heterogeneous glycosylation of this Asn residue could be a source of the multiplicity of natural Hev b 2. Possible participation of the carbohydrate epitopes of latex β-1,3-glucanase isoenzymes in their IgE-binding capacity and cross-reactivity was investigated in this study. Methods: β-1,3-Glucanase isoenzymes were separated based on their affinities for concanavalin A. IgE-binding capacity and cross-reactivity were examined by immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sequence heterogeneity among the isoenzymes was probed by peptide mass mapping after lysyl endopeptidase digestion. To clarify the relation to Hev b 2, N-terminal sequencing was performed on a fragmented peptide common to the separated isoenzymes. Results: Basic β-1,3-glucanase was subdivided into two glycosylated isoenzymes (GI and GII) and one non-glycosylated isoenzyme (GIII). IgE antibodies in latex-positive sera chiefly recognized the glycosylated isoenzymes. Inhibition ELISA supported the significance of the carbohydrate epitopes for the IgE recognition and cross-reactivity. However, non-glycosylated GIII, as well as GI and GII, produced positive results in a skin prick test. The three β-1,3-glucanase isoenzymes shared a partial sequence in common with Hev b 2. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the carbohydrate epitopes in Hev b 2 homologues are relevant to an in vitro diagnosis of latex allergy and the accompanying cross-reactivity. Carbohydrate epitopes do not necessarily provoke allergic symptoms. Therefore, the actual allergenicity of Hev b 2 and its homologues should be carefully evaluated not only by in vitro IgE tests but also by in vivo tests.

Validation of HPLC and GC–MS systems for bisphenol-A leached from hemodialyzers on the basis of FUMI theory

This paper proposes a method for the validation of chromatography systems in which many experiments to estimate SD or RSD are difficult or impossible to carry out because of time, cost, etc. HPLC systems with UV-Vis and fluorescence detectors and GC-MS system for bisphenol-A leached from hemodialyzers are taken as an example. Examined as validation characteristics are not only the ordinary quantities (precision, accuracy, range, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), specificity and linearity) but also precision plots (measurement RSD vs. concentration), 95% confidence intervals of calibration lines and LOD signals over baselines. The precision plots, calibration confidence intervals and LOD signals are shown to be advantageous to validate and compare the analytical performance of the systems. The LOD, LOQ, precision plots and 95% confidence intervals of calibration lines are all derived from the SD of measurements and the reliability of these quantities and plots depends totally on the reliability of the SD estimates. This paper uses a probability theory, called the FUMI theory, to estimate as exact a measurement SD as possible without the replication. The precision of the HPLC and GC-MS systems is shown to coincide with the repeatability obtained by the repetition of measurements.

Embodying a stable α-helical protein structure through efficient chemical ligation via thioether formation

A new approach was developed to embody the alpha-helical protein structure having an arbitrary combination and arrangement of helices by the successive ligation of a haloacetyl peptide segment with a cysteinyl peptide. A four-helix-bundle protein was efficiently constructed by the repetitive ligation of alpha-helical peptide segments. The use of HPLC-purified unprotected peptide segments facilitated the purification of the intermediates to afford the highly homogeneous desired protein. The use of the bromoacetyl moiety and the chloroacetyl moiety for the ligation was judged to make no difference in practice. A trial of introducing an additional intramolecular disulfide cross-link was also examined. The resulting protein showed high stability in the chaotropic and thermal denaturation and in enzymatic degradation.

Use of dimethylformamide–sulphur trioxide complex as a sulphating agent of tyrosine

Dimethylformamide–sulphur trioxide (DMF–SO3) complex was found to be more suitable for tyrosine sulphation than pyridine–sulphur trioxide (Pyr–SO3) complex, the most commonly used sulphur trioxide complex for sulphation. The work-up after sulphation using DMF–SO3 was also easier than with Pyr–SO3. The usefulness of DMF–SO3 complex was demonstrated through the synthesis of two tyrosine sulphate [Tyr(SO3H)]-containing peptides, leucine-enkephalin sulphate and leucosulfakinin-II.

Efficient solid-phase synthesis of sulfated tyrosine-containing peptides using 2-chlorotrityl resin: Facile synthesis of gastrin/cholecystokinin peptides

Abstract An efficient Fmoc-based solid-phase method for the synthesis of sulfated tyrosine-containing peptides is described. This synthetic approach involves two key features: (1) use of the 2-chlorotrityl resin as a solid support, and (2) a two-step cleavage/deprotection protocol. Various molecular forms of gastrin-II and cholecystokinin (CCK) were prepared by this approach without difficulty.

Chemical ligation to obtain proteins comprising helices with individual amino acid sequences.

Development of the strategies for assembling multiple kinds of peptide segments would give new possibilities for the de novo design of functional proteins. We will introduce our approach for the selective assembly of helical peptide segments on a peptide template to give four-helix-bundle proteins comprising individual helices.