Sj. Koppelman et al., Heat-induced conformational changes of Ara h 1, a major peanut allergen, do not affect its allergenic properties, J BIOL CHEM, 274(8), 1999, pp. 4770-4777
Ara h 1, a major peanut allergen was isolated, and its structure on seconda
ry, tertiary, and quaternary level at ambient temperature was investigated
using spectroscopic and biochemical techniques. Ara h 1 appeared to be a hi
ghly structured protein on a secondary level, possesses a clear tertiary fo
ld, and is present as a trimeric complex. Heat treatment of purified Ara h
1 results in an endothermic, irreversible transition between 80 and 90 degr
ees C, leading to an increase in beta-structures and a concomitant aggregat
ion of the protein. Ara h 1 from peanuts that were heat-treated prior to th
e purification procedure exhibited a similar denatured state with an increa
sed secondary folding and a decreased solubility, The effect of heat treatm
ent on the in vitro allergenic properties of Ara h 1 was investigated by me
ans of a fluid-phase IgE binding assay using serum from patients with a cli
nically proven peanut allergy. Ara h 1 purified from peanuts heated at diff
erent temperatures exhibited IgE binding properties similar to those found
for native Ara h 1, indicating that the allergenicity of Ara h 1 is heat-st
able. We conclude that the allergenicity of Ara h 1 is unaffected by heatin
g, although native Ara h 1 undergoes a significant heat-induced denaturatio
n on a molecular level, indicating that the recognition of conformational e
pitopes of Ara h 1 by IgE either is not a dominant mechanism or is restrict
ed to parts of the protein that are not sensitive to heat denaturation.