The primary structure of allergen M from cod.

The complete primary structure of allergen M of cod (Gadus callarias L.) is presented. The amino acid sequence of fragment TM1, the NH2-terminal peptide of allergen M, was elucidated by the dansyl-Edman method. It consists of 75 amino acids and 1 glucose residue (mol. wt. 8,492). By summation of the sequence data of fragment TM1 and the previously reported fragment TM2, the intact allergen M has 113 residues (mol. wt. 12,328). Fragment TM1 of cod shows less homology (30.6 percent) with the corresponding fragments of other reported fish species than does fragment TM2 (42.1 percent); the intact allergen M shows 34.5 percent homology. The single half cystine of allergen M was shown to be blocked. Gas chromatographic analysis of the reduced and nonreduced allergen M suggested that the glucose is bound to Cys 18 through an S-glucosidic bond.