Isolation and Partial Characterization of Three Allergens of Timothy Pollen

Abstract

Three allergens, antigens Nos, 3, 25. and 30, were isolated from freeze-dried aqueous extract of timothy pollen by various combinations of anionic and cationic exchange and gel chromatography. The allergens were all of protein nature and contained less than 2% (w/w) immunochemically detectable impurities Molecular weight and pl's were determined to < 10 × 10³, 15 × 10³ and 3.9, 4.5, 9.4. respectively, and antigen 25 was determined as the major component of the earlier isolated antigen B. Amino acid analyses performed on antigens 3 and 50 revealed large variations in the amino acid composition. The allergenic activities were verified by means of RAST inhibition and prick tests and proved antigen 25 to be quantitatively the most important allergen of tintothy pollen.