The crystal structure of the major cat allergen Fel d 1, a member of the secretoglobin family

J Biol Chem. 2003 Sep 26;278(39):37730-5. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M304740200. Epub 2003 Jul 8.

Abstract

The domestic cat (Felis domesticus) is one of the most important causes of allergic asthma worldwide. The dominating cat allergen, Fel d 1, is composed of two heterodimers. Recently, it has been shown that recombinant Fel d 1, consisting of chain 2 and chain 1 fused together without additional linker, has immunological properties indistinguishable from the natural heterodimeric protein. Herein, we report the crystal structure of recombinant monomeric Fel d 1 at 1.85-A resolution, determined by multi-wavelength anomalous diffraction using selenomethionine substituted protein. Fel d 1 is an all-helical protein and consists of eight helices. The two halves of the recombinant Fel d 1 molecule, corresponding to the wild-type Fel d 1 chains, are very similar in three-dimensional structure, despite the lack of significant sequence identity. The structure of the Fel d 1 presents a striking similarity to that of uteroglobin, a steroid-inducible cytokine-like molecule with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. An internal, asymmetric cavity is formed in the Fel d 1 that could bind an endogenous ligand. The distribution of residues lining this cavity suggests that such a ligand must be amphipathic. The structure of Fel d 1 displays the localization of three previously defined Fel d 1 IgE epitopes on the surface of the protein. The three-dimensional structure provides a framework for rational design of hypoallergenic mutants aimed for treatment of cat allergy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cats
  • Crystallization
  • Dimerization
  • Glycoproteins / chemistry*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Uteroglobin / chemistry
  • Uteroglobin / metabolism

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • Uteroglobin
  • Fel d 1 protein, Felis domesticus

Associated data

  • PDB/1PUO