The amyloid fold of Gad m 1 epitopes governs IgE binding

Sci Rep. 2016 Sep 6:6:32801. doi: 10.1038/srep32801.

Abstract

Amyloids are polymeric structural states formed from locally or totally unfolded protein chains that permit surface reorganizations, stability enhancements and interaction properties that are absent in the precursor monomers. β-Parvalbumin, the major allergen in fish allergy, forms amyloids that are recognized by IgE in the patient sera, suggesting a yet unknown pathological role for these assemblies. We used Gad m 1 as the fish β-parvalbumin model and a combination of approaches, including peptide arrays, recombinant wt and mutant chains, biophysical characterizations, protease digestions, mass spectrometry, dot-blot and ELISA assays to gain insights into the role of amyloids in the IgE interaction. We found that Gad m 1 immunoreactive regions behave as sequence-dependent conformational epitopes that provide a 1000-fold increase in affinity and the structural repetitiveness required for optimal IgE binding and cross-linking upon folding into amyloids. These findings support the amyloid state as a key entity in type I food allergy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amyloid / metabolism*
  • Amyloidogenic Proteins / metabolism
  • Amyloidosis / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Epitopes / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fishes
  • Food Hypersensitivity / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Parvalbumins / metabolism
  • Protein Binding / physiology

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Amyloid
  • Amyloidogenic Proteins
  • Epitopes
  • Parvalbumins
  • Immunoglobulin E