Isolation of a Low Molecular Weight Constituent from Kentucky Blue Grass Pollen Possessing Carrier Activity of High Molecular Weight Constituent(s)

Abstract

An immunologically active fraction, designated as C-I-3 was isolated from the dialysate of the aqueous extract of defatted Kentucky Blue Grass pollen by differential dialysis and gel filtration. This fraction was shown to consist of a glycoprotein with a molecular size corresponding to 4,800 daltons and with a pi value of 3.6, and to contain all amino acids except cysteine. The intraperitoneal administration of C-I-3 in saline into mice or rats prior to their immunization with the nondialyzable constituents of the aqueous extract of Kentucky Blue Grass (i.e., the retentate, R) in presence of Al(OH)₃ resulted in the enhanced production of anti-R IgE antibodies. The enhancement of the anti-R murine IgE response was shown in adoptive cell transfer experiments to be due to the generation of R-specific T helper cells. Hence, it is suggested that the structural elucidation of C-I-3 may prove useful in establishing the nature of carrier determinant(s) of the major allergenic components of Kentucky Blue Grass pollen.

Isolation of Allergenically Active Cytochrome c from Kentucky Blue Grass Pollen

“…In earlier studies from our laboratory, protocols were developed for isolating puri fied allergens from the aqueous extract of KBG pollen [1,2,[10][11][12]. In the present study, we report the isolation of an allergenically active cytochrome c from the nondialysable multicomponent fraction, i.e.…”