Article
Transient dimers of allergens.
PloS one - 5 Feb 2010
Rouvinen Juha, Jänis Janne, Laukkanen Marja-Leena, Jylhä Sirpa, Niemi Merja, Päivinen Tero, Mäkinen-Kiljunen Soili, Haahtela Tari, Söderlund Hans, Takkinen Kristiina
Abstract excerpt
BACKGROUND: Allergen-mediated cross-linking of IgE antibodies bound to the FcepsilonRI receptors on the mast cell surface is the key feature of the type I allergy. If an allergen is a homodimer, its allergenicity is enhanced because it would only need one type of antibody, instead of two, for cross-linking. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: An analysis of 55 crystal structures of allergens showed that 80% of them...
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