IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIFIC IGE BINDING-PROTEINS IN CASTOR BEAN (RICINUS-COMMUNIS) POLLEN OBTAINED FROM DIFFERENT SOURCE MATERIALS

Allergenic components of Ricinus communis pollen obtained from differe nt stages of inflorescence, different time intervals, different years and places were studied by immunoblot analysis. Proteins separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred to NC were identified using pooled sera from 15 skin and RAST positive patients. The IgE binding components in M.W. range of 14 to 70 kD were identified. The protein fractions of 70, 66 , 64, 60, 50, 45, 36, 22 and 14 kD are the most prominent allergenic b ands. Six samples collected during same pollination season from the sa me place showed similar allergenic profile. Of the samples collected f rom different stages of inflorescence, pollen of immature buds showed only three bands as compared to 18 from mature buds and flowers. Varia bility was seen in the IgE binding components of pollen stored for dif ferent years and obtained from different geographic regions of India, The IgE binding pattern of fifteen sera were heterogenous. The number of bands identified by different sera varied from 3 to 18. Two protein components of 66 and 36 kD were recognised by 14 (93.3%) of the 15 se ra studied. The result suggests that there exists variations in the sp ecific IgE binding pattern in pollen samples of Castor Bean, obtained from difference source materials.