Analysis of the distribution of the major soybean seed allergens in a corecollection of Glycine max accessions

P34 is an outlying member of the papain-superfamily of cysteine proteases t hat is expressed in developing soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seeds and m ay be involved in the defense against Pseudomonas infection. P34 is the maj or human allergen of soybean seeds and is present in processed food product s that contain soybean protein. We have surveyed a cove collection of soybe an accessions using a monoclonal antibody against P34 and with human sera f rom soybean-sensitive individuals. We found that the accessions of soybean surveyed contain similar levels of P34 and that P34 is the major allergenic protein. We have also surveyed wild relatives of soybean and found that P3 4 was present in the examples assayed. These results indicate that it mag n ot be possible to eliminate P34 from the food supply by breeding with an im proved germplasm base.