Determination of the primary structure of two lipid transfer proteins fromapricot (Prunus armeniaca)

It has been recently demonstrated that the major allergen of apricot is a p rotein of molecular mass (M-r) 9000 belonging to the family of Lipid Transf er Protein. The aim of this study was the determination of the primary stru cture of apricot LTP by micro-sequencing and mass spectrometric analyses. A pricot LTP is a 91 amino acids protein like peach and almond LTPs with a se quence identity of 91% and 94%, respectively. Like for the peach LTP, out o f the 25 amino acids forming the inner surface of the tunnel-like hydrophob ic cavity in maize ns-LTP, 16 are identical and 7 similar in the apricot LT P, supporting the hypothesis of a similar function. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scien ce B.V. All rights reserved.