Inverse relation between structural flexibility and IgE reactivity of Cor a 1 hazelnut allergens

Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 18;11(1):4173. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-83705-z.

Abstract

A major proportion of allergic reactions to hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) are caused by immunologic cross-reactivity of IgE antibodies to pathogenesis-related class 10 (PR-10) proteins. Intriguingly, the four known isoforms of the hazelnut PR-10 allergen Cor a 1, denoted as Cor a 1.0401-Cor a 1.0404, share sequence identities exceeding 97% but possess different immunologic properties. In this work we describe the NMR solution structures of these proteins and provide an in-depth study of their biophysical properties. Despite sharing highly similar three-dimensional structures, the four isoforms exhibit remarkable differences regarding structural flexibility, hydrogen bonding and thermal stability. Our experimental data reveal an inverse relation between structural flexibility and IgE-binding in ELISA experiments, with the most flexible isoform having the lowest IgE-binding potential, while the isoform with the most rigid backbone scaffold displays the highest immunologic reactivity. These results point towards a significant entropic contribution to the process of antibody binding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / immunology*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antigens, Plant / immunology*
  • Corylus / immunology*
  • Cross Reactions / immunology
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology*
  • Plant Proteins / immunology*
  • Protein Isoforms / immunology

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Antigens, Plant
  • Plant Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Immunoglobulin E