Native and recombinant Fel dI as probes into the relationship of allergen structure to human IgE immunoreactivity

Abstract To delineate the relationship between the structural conformation and the stability of an allergen and its antigenicity, we have chosen the major allergen from cat dander, Fel d I. From protein sequence analysis data we have examined the structure of the naturally occurring Fel d I and we have found it to exist as an anti-parallel heterodimer. We have used ELISA, RAST, Western blot and histamine release techniques to compare the IgE reactivity of a set of cat allergic patient samples to purified, native Fel d I and the E. coli expressed chains 1 and 2. Results from these studies demonstrate a significant level of IgE reactivity to all forms when examined for direct binding. However, both blot and ELISA competition assays show a much higher reactivity to Fel d I in solution compared to the separate recombinant chains and this is supported by the histamine release data. Although native Fel d I chain 2 contains an N-linked carbohydrate moiety, this does not seem to play a role in the reactivity of IgE to chain 2. Denaturation of Fel d I with alkali conditions leads to a dramatic decrease in IgE reactivity, even though measurable changes to the backbone structure of the protein are minimal. One proposed explanation is that both chains possess a core region determined by their primary structures and that the major IgE epitopes are dependent upon them. The relative reactivity amongst these allergen forms varied with the method of analysis, implying that the conformational requirements for IgE antibody binding are best studied by the application of more than one experimental protocol. Results from these qualitative analyses afford insight into the allergenicity of this exceptionally stable cat pelt protein.