Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Removal and Replacement of Endogenous Ligands from Lipid-Bound Proteins and Allergens
09:09

Removal and Replacement of Endogenous Ligands from Lipid-Bound Proteins and Allergens

Published on: February 24, 2021

Crystal structure and some properties of a major house dust mite allergen, Derf 2

Masashi Suzuki1, Yoshimasa Tanaka, Seigo Korematsu

  • 1Laboratory of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Yoshidakonoe-Cho, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|November 30, 2005
PubMed

Insights

House dust mite allergens like Derf 2 cause allergic diseases. Its crystal structure reveals that allergen conformation dictates immune response, paving the way for new hyposensitization therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Structural Biology
  • Allergen Research

Background:

  • Pyroglyphid house dust mites are significant sources of allergens.
  • Mite allergens trigger asthma, rhinitis, and eczema in allergic individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the crystal structure of the major house dust mite allergen, Derf 2.
  • To investigate the relationship between allergen conformation and the Th1/Th2 immune response.

Main Methods:

  • X-ray crystallography using single isomorphous replacement with anomalous scattering (SIRAS) at 2.1Å resolution.
  • Physicochemical and immunological analyses to assess allergen conformation and immune response.

Main Results:

  • The crystal structure of Derf 2 from Dermatophagoides farinae was elucidated.
  • Allergen conformation was found to be critical in determining the Th1/Th2 immune shift.
  • A rigidly folded, singly dispersed structure promoted Th2 cell generation, while conformational variants induced Th1 skewing.

Conclusions:

  • The structure-function relationship of Derf 2 provides insights into allergenicity.
  • Understanding this relationship may enable novel hyposensitization strategies for house dust mite allergies.

More Related Videos

Identification and Characterization of Immunogenic RNA Species in HDM Allergens that Modulate Eosinophilic Lung Inflammation08:44

Identification and Characterization of Immunogenic RNA Species in HDM Allergens that Modulate Eosinophilic Lung Inflammation

Published on: May 30, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes02:58

Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes

Crystal Field Theory
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes02:46

Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes

Tetrahedral Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
Determination of Crystal Structures01:29

Determination of Crystal Structures

In the late 1800s, the revelation that light extended beyond visible wavelengths led to the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen. Recognized as high-energy electromagnetic radiation with short wavelengths, X-rays prompted exploration into their interaction with crystals. Max von Laue proposed in 1912 that the periodic arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in crystals would cause them to diffract X-rays, a hypothesis confirmed through experiments with copper sulfate and zinc sulfide...
Gene Families01:57

Gene Families

Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Crystal Density01:19

Crystal Density

The crystal lattice structure of a material allows us to determine how many molecules exist in its unit cell. With this information, alongside the unit-cell parameters - three distance parameters (a, b, c) and three angular parameters (α, β, γ).Density (ρ) = (Z × M) / (a × b × c × NA)where:Z is the number of formula units per unit cellM is the molar mass of the substancea, b, and c are the edge lengths of the unit cellNA is Avogadro’s numberFor a simple cubic lattice, atoms are located only at...