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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Healthy Processed Foods Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #335800
Research Project: Defining, Measuring, and Mitigating Attributes that Adversely Impact the Quality and Marketability of Foods

Location: Healthy Processed Foods Research

Title: Crystal structure of cocosin, a potential food allergen from coconut (Cocos nucifera) (abstract)

Author
item Zhang, Yuzhu
item JIN, TENGCHUAN - University Of Science And Technology Of China

Submitted to: Journal of Allergy Clinical Immunology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/21/2016
Publication Date: 2/10/2017
Citation: Zhang, Y., Jin, T. 2017. Crystal structure of cocosin, a potential food allergen from coconut (Cocos nucifera) [abstract]. Journal of Allergy Clinical Immunology. 139(2):AB261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2016.12.841.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2016.12.841

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: RATIONALE: Coconut allergy cases have been reported, but only one coconut allergen has been identified. The 11S seed storage proteins belong to one of a few protein families that contain known food allergens in many food of plant sources. Cocosin, the 11S protein from cocosin remains to be characterized as a potential food allergen. METHODS: Cocosin was purified from coconut meat. Its characterization was carried out by crystallization any x-ray crystallography studies. RESULTS: The crystal structure of cocosin was determined by molecular replacement. Information on likely linear IgE epitopes was inferred from sequence and structural comparison with other 11S food allergens. CONCLUSIONS: Cocosin is likely to be a food allergen and its potential linear epitopes need to be further studied with patient sera when available.