Abstract
Pollen grains from Populus tomentosa, a widely cultivated tree in northern area of China, are considered to be an important aeroallergen causing severe allergic diseases. To gain insight into their allergenic components, mature Populus tomentosa pollen proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS). A total of 412 spots from mature pollen were resolved on pH 4–7 immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strips and 159 distinct proteins were identified from 242 spots analyzed. The identified proteins were categorized based on their functional role in the pollen, which included proteins involved in energy regulation, protein fate, protein synthesis and processing, metabolism, defense/stress responses, development and other functional categories. Moreover, among the identified proteins, 27 proteins were identified as putative allergens using the Structural Database of Allergenic Proteins (SDAP) tool and Allergen Online. The expression patterns of these putative allergen genes indicate that several of these genes are highly expressed in pollen. The identified putative allergens have the potential to improve specific diagnosis and can be used to develop vaccines for immunotherapy against poplar pollen allergy.
Highlights
Pollen grains are the dispersal agents of sperm cells and play a vital role in sexual reproduction of higher plants
As far as we know, this is the first report of comprehensive proteomic analysis and possible allergenic proteins in mature pollen of P. tomentosa
Mature pollen grains were harvested from P. tomentosa and sowed on dishes containing liquid germination medium using the “thin liquid layer” germination method
Summary
Pollen grains are the dispersal agents of sperm cells and play a vital role in sexual reproduction of higher plants. Proteomic analysis of tomato pollen showed that many of the identified proteins have designated roles in defense mechanisms, energy conversion, pollen germination, and pollen tube growth, and some possibly in sperm cell formation [2]. Zou et al [12] reported comparative proteomic analysis of Arabidopsis mature pollen and germinated pollen, and indicated some differentially expressed proteins that are mainly involved in different cellular and metabolic processes, including cell signaling, cellular structure, transport, defense/stress responses, transcription, metabolism and energy production. Cocos nucifera (Coconut) pollen proteins were analyzed and within them were identified 12 allergenic proteins by 2-DE, immunoblotted with coconut pollen sensitive patient sera followed by mass spectrometry of IgE-reactive proteins [16]. As far as we know, this is the first report of comprehensive proteomic analysis and possible allergenic proteins in mature pollen of P. tomentosa
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