Pomegranate Cultivars: Identification of the New IgE-Binding Protein Pommaclein and Analysis of Antioxidant Variability

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 65; no. 13; pp. 2702 - 2710
• Main Authors: Tuppo, Lisa, Alessandri, Claudia, Pasquariello, Maria Silvia, Petriccione, Milena, Giangrieco, Ivana, Tamburrini, Maurizio, Mari, Adriano, Ciardiello, Maria Antonietta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 05.04.2017
• Subjects: allergens; Amino Acid Sequence; Antigens, Plant - chemistry; Antigens, Plant - genetics; Antigens, Plant - immunology; antioxidants; Antioxidants - analysis; cultivars; Food Hypersensitivity - immunology; Fruit - chemistry; Fruit - immunology; functional foods; Galectin 3 - chemistry; Galectin 3 - genetics; Galectin 3 - immunology; health promotion; Humans; hypersensitivity; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; mesocarp; Molecular Sequence Data; peaches; Plant Proteins - chemistry; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - immunology; pomegranates; protein composition; proteins; pulp; Punicaceae - chemistry; Punicaceae - classification; Punicaceae - genetics; Punicaceae - immunology; reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography; Sequence Alignment; Pun g 7; Pru p 7; Pun g 1; pomegranate; peamaclein; antioxidant variability; Pru p 3; pommaclein
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b00092

The consumption of pomegranate is increasing as it is considered a health-promoting food. Nevertheless, it can trigger allergic reactions, sometimes severe. The LTP Pun g 1 is the only pomegranate allergen so far reported. Based on preliminary clinical observations, the main aim of this study was the investigation of still unknown allergens contained in this fruit. Pommaclein, a homologue of peamaclein, the peach allergen Pru p 7, was isolated, identified by protein sequencing, and characterized as an IgE-binding protein by different test systems. RP-HPLC protein profiles revealed significant variations of LTP and pommaclein content in the red pulp of selected cultivars and accessions. Conversely, the mesocarp appeared free of proteins and much richer in antioxidants. In conclusion, a new allergen has been identified, and it could contribute to improving allergy diagnosis. The study highlights that pomegranate mesocarp could represent a rich and safe source of nutraceuticals also for allergic subjects.