Characterization of the major allergen of Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) pollen, Cyn d I

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1991 Nov;88(5):763-74. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(91)90184-p.

Abstract

An allergen from Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) pollen, Cyn d I, has been purified by a combination of concanavalin A-Sepharose affinity chromatography, and carboxymethyl-Sepharose chromatography. The allergen constitutes the major allergenic component of the pollen extract as observed by immunoelectrophoretic techniques, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, an IgE-inhibition experiment, and skin testing. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Cyn d I is presented as a dominant 32 kd band and a minor 29 kd band, both binding IgE. Both bands are identified by monospecific rabbit antibodies (Abs) raised against Cyn d I. These Abs only weakly precipitate allergens from other grass species, indicating that Cyn d I possesses some unique immunochemical properties. Two of four purified murine monoclonal Abs raised against Cyn d I also bind to both bands of Cyn d I, indicating that the bands represent isoallergens with slightly different immunochemical properties. All four monoclonal Abs cross-react with pollen components from other grass species, especially Poa pratensis and Dactylis glomerata. The NH2-terminal sequence corresponding to approximately 10% of the complete sequence was determined, and it revealed high homology to the corresponding sequence of the major allergen of Lolium perenne, Lol p I. From the amino acid composition determination and immunoelectrophoretic comparison, the amount of Cyn d I in the source whole-pollen extract was estimated to be 15% wt/wt.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / chemistry
  • Allergens / immunology
  • Allergens / isolation & purification*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Plant
  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Humans
  • Immunoelectrophoresis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Plant Proteins*
  • Poaceae
  • Pollen*
  • Rabbits
  • Sepharose / analogs & derivatives
  • Skin Tests

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Antigens, Plant
  • CYND1 protein, Cynodon dactylon
  • Plant Proteins
  • concanavalin A-sepharose
  • Sepharose