Abstract:

【Objective】 The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of γ-irradiation on the biochemical and immunological properties of an crab allergen. 【Method】 Crab protein solutions containing allergen were irradiated at 3, 5, 7 and 9 kGy. The changes of concentration, turbidity and hydrophobicity of the irradiated protein solution were determined by UV and fluorescence spectrophotometer. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis was used to analyze the change of molecular weight. Changes in antigenicity of the irradiated protein were observed by competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting. 【Result】 The turbidity and hydrophobicity of the crab allergen solution increased and its concentration decreased with the increase of irradiation dose. Patterns detected by the SDS-PAGE and the immunoblot showed that the band of allergy protein disappeared. Inhibition abilities of allergy protein against polyclonal IgG decreased with the increasing irradiation dose. 【Conclusion】 The conformation and epitopes on crab allergen were structurally altered by irradiation. So γ-irradiation may provide a potential method for cowering the antigenicity of crab allergen.

Key words: crab allergen')">crab allergen, irriadiation, biochemical property, antigenicity