Conformation affects the potential allergenicity of ovalbumin after heating and glycation

Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2013;30(10):1684-92. doi: 10.1080/19440049.2013.822105. Epub 2013 Aug 6.

Abstract

Ovalbumin (OVA), one of the major allergens in hen egg white, and has widespread use in experimental models of allergy. The aim of this research was to assess the effect of glycation and heat treatment on the potential allergenicity of OVA prepared from hen egg white. Secondary and tertiary structures of OVA were also characterised to show the relationship between potential allergenicity and the conformation of OVA after heating and glycation. Glycation significantly reduced the potential allergenicity of OVA tested with egg allergy patients' sera, which was caused by conformation changes. An increased IgG reactivity was measured using rabbit anti-OVA and was supposed to be caused by protein unfolding which exposed hidden epitopes. Heating reduced the potential allergenicity of OVA at the expense of increased IgG reactivity. It is suggested that conformational changes of OVA induced by glycation and controlled heating significantly reduced its potential allergenicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / adverse effects
  • Allergens / chemistry*
  • Allergens / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Avian Proteins / adverse effects
  • Avian Proteins / chemistry*
  • Avian Proteins / immunology*
  • Chickens
  • Egg Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Glycosylation
  • Hot Temperature
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Ovalbumin / adverse effects
  • Ovalbumin / chemistry*
  • Ovalbumin / immunology*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Rabbits

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Avian Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Ovalbumin