Towards abolition of immunogenic structures in insect cells: characterization of a honey-bee (Apis mellifera) multi-gene family reveals both an allergy-related core alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase and the first insect Lewis-histo-blood-group-related antigen-synthesizing enzyme.

ABSTRACT: Glycoproteins from honey-bee (Apis mellifera), such as phospholipase A2 and hyaluronidase, are well-known major bee-venom allergens. They carry N-linked oligosaccharide structures with two types of alpha1,3-fucosylation: the modification by alpha1,3-fucose of the innermost core GlcNAc, which constitutes an epitope recognized by IgE from some bee-venom-allergic patients, and an antennal Lewis-like GalNAcbeta1,4(Fucalpha1,3)GlcNAc moiety. We now report the cloning and expression of two cDNAs encoding the relevant active alpha1,3-FucTs (alpha1,3-fucosyltransferases). The first sequence, closest to that of fruitfly (Drosophila melanogaster) FucTA, was found to be a core alpha1,3-FucT (EC 2.4.1.214), as judged by several enzyme and biochemical assays. The second cDNA encoded an enzyme, most rel

SUBMITTER: Rendic D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1783989 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature