An approach to the knowledge of pollen and allergen diversity through lipid transfer protein localisation in taxonomically distant pollen grains |
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Authors: | MarÍa Suárez‐Cervera Ana Vega‐Maray Teresa Castells F. Javier RodrÍguez‐Rajo Juan A. Asturias Annick Le Thomas |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Botany Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Barcelona , Spain msuarez@ub.edu;3. Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management (Botany) , Faculty of Biology , University of León , Spain;4. Department of Botany Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Barcelona , Spain;5. Department of Plant Biology and Soil Sciences , Sciences Faculty of Ourense , University of Vigo , Ourense, Spain;6. R &7. D Department , Bial‐Arístegui S.A. , Bilbao, Spain;8. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle , Paris, France |
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Abstract: | The aim of the present study is to localise non‐specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs), obtained from Rosaceae (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) in pollen grains of taxonomically distant plants, such as Iridaceae (Aristea latifolia G.J. Lewis), Platanaceae (Platanus acerifolia (Aiton) Willd.) and Urticaceae (Parietaria judaica L.), in order to compare pollen and nsLTP diversity. A combination of transmission electron microscopy, immunocytochemical techniques, and rabbit specific antiserum against peach nsLTPs (Pru p 3) were used. Abundant labelling to Pru p 3‐like proteins was observed in the cytoplasm, walls and pollenkitt of A. latifolia pollen grains. The presence of nsLTPs associated with the pollenkitt proves that it takes part in the defence mechanism of pollen grains. The labelling was less intense in the cytoplasm and walls of P. acerifolia. Immuno‐stained gold particles were associated with the vacuoles, lipid inclusions, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex. No significant labelling was found in the P. judaica pollen grains incubated with anti‐Pru p 3 polyclonal antibodies. These results indicate important variations in the nsLTPs of different pollen species. Consequently, no taxonomic relationship between pollen grains and nsLTPs could be established. |
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Keywords: | Allergens lipid bodies lipid transfer proteins pollen grains pollenkitt Pru p 3 |
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