Exploring the structure and function of PR-10 pollen and food allergens and their physiological ligands

植物病原相关蛋白PR-10在植物中普遍存在且保守。尽管它们在不同的植物科中普遍存在，并且在花粉和食物过敏中起重要作用，但它们在分子水平上的生理功能仍然是难以捉摸的。至少有一些PR-10过敏原似乎是植物对病原体或非生物胁迫刺激的免疫反应的一部分，这导致植物激素和抗真菌代谢产物的产生。来自草莓的Fra a 1过敏原似乎参与类黄酮的生物合成，作为载体蛋白发挥作用。然而，需要回答一些基本问题。例如，1型变应原性的一般结构基础尚不清楚。PR-10家族的一些成员不会引发过敏反应，尽管整体3D结构与被认为是过敏原的PR-10蛋白高度相似。此外，有人建议，结合到过敏原的配体可能是重要的过敏反应，甚至可能提高其过敏原性。到目前为止，只有两个天然配体已被确定，无论是在生物聚合物系在拜罗伊特大学。然而，我们仍然不太了解它们在体内的功能。因此，更好地了解过敏原PR-10蛋白及其天然配体的生理作用可能有助于为过敏治疗提供新的方面。本项目将有助于阐明PR-10变应原的结构和功能，鉴定新的同种变应原及其配体，并确定其致敏潜力。

Pathogenesis-related plant proteins PR-10 are conserved and ubiquitous in plants. In spite of their hig prevalence in different plant families and their important role in pollen and food allergies their physiological function on a molecular level remains elusive. At least some of the PR-10 allergens appear to be part of the plants' immune response against pathogens or abiotic stress stimuli, which leads to the production of phytohormones and antifungal metabolites. The Fra a 1 allergen from strawberries appears to be involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, functioning as a carrier protein. However, fundamental questions need to be answered. For example the general structural basis of type 1 allergenicity is not known. Some members of the PR-10 family do not trigger allergic reactions although the overall 3D structure is highly similar to those PR-10 proteins that are considered allergens. Furthermore, it was suggested that the ligands bound to the allergens might be important for the allergic reaction and might even enhance their allergenicity. So far only two natural ligands have been identified, both in the Department of Biopolymers at the University of Bayreuth. However, we still do not know much about their in vivo function. Therefore, a better understanding of the physiological roles of allergenic PR-10 proteins and their natural ligands may help to provide new aspects in allergy treatment. This project shall contribute to elucidate the structure and function of PR-10 allergens, to identify new isoallergens and their ligands as well as to determine their allergenic potential.