Download MendeleyCross-reactivity and 1.4-A crystal structure of Malassezia sympodialis thioredoxin (Mala s 13), a member of a new pan-allergen family.
Limacher, A., Glaser, A.G., Meier, C., Schmid-Grendelmeier, P., Zeller, S., Scapozza, L., Crameri, R.(2007) J Immunol 178: 389-396
- PubMed: 17182577
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.178.1.389
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
2J23 - PubMed Abstract:
We have identified thioredoxins (Trx) of Malassezia sympodialis, a yeast involved in the pathogenesis of atopic eczema, and of Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus involved in pulmonary complications, as novel IgE-binding proteins. We show that these Trx, including the human enzyme, represent cross-reactive structures recognized by serum IgE from individuals sensitized to M. sympodialis Trx. Moreover, all three proteins were able to elicit immediate-type allergic skin reactions in sensitized individuals, indicating a humoral immune response based on molecular mimicry. To analyze structural elements involved in these reactions, the three-dimensional structure of M. sympodialis Trx (Mala s 13) has been determined at 1.4-A resolution by x-ray diffraction analysis. The structure was solved by molecular replacement and refined to a crystallographic R factor of 14.0% and a free R factor of 16.8% and shows the typical Trx fold. Mala s 13 shares 45% sequence identity with human Trx and superposition of the solved Mala s 13 structure with those of human Trx reveals a high similarity with a root mean square deviation of 1.11 A for all Calpha atoms. In a detailed analysis of the molecular surface in combination with sequence alignment, we identified conserved solvent-exposed amino acids scattered over the surface in both structures which cluster to patches, thus forming putative conformational B cell epitopes potentially involved in IgE-mediated cross- and autoreactivity.
Organizational Affiliation:
Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), Davos, Switzerland.
