Purification and Properties of an Allergenic Protein in Rice Grain

Abstract

A protein antigenic to the IgE antibody of allergic individuals was isolated from rice grain by ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatographies. The molecular weight of the allergenic protein was estimated to be about 16,000 by sodiumdodecylsulfate-gel electrophoresis. The protein contained 7mol of cystine residue per mole of protein and no cysteine residues, and its immunoreactivity was quite stable to heating at 100°C. This allergenic protein was mainly present in the endosperm portion of rice seeds.