Identification Of Ige-Binding Proteins Of Male and Female Scylla Serrata (Mud Crab) Preliminary Results

Crab represents valuable nutrient source of protein, nutrients and functional lipids, is widely consumed. However the prevalence of crab allergy has increased over the past few years. In order to better understand local crab allergy, it is necessary to identify crab allergens. Multiple crab allergens including tropomyosin and arginine kinase have been identified as major allergens in various species of crab. Scylla serrata (mud crab) is an economically important crab species found in the Indo-Pacific region. So, the aim of this study was to identify the IgE-binding proteins of male and female Scylla serrata (mud crab). The raw extracts were prepared from the crab meat. The protein profiles and IgE-reactivity pattern were then identified by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting technique using sera from 10 patients with mud crab allergy. SDS-PAGE analysis of the male and female crab extracts revealed 19 protein bands ranging from 12 to 250 kDa. Immunoblot of male and female mud crab extracts demonstrated 7 and 5 IgE-binding proteins, respectively, with molecular weights between 30 to 150 kDa. Protein at 36 kDa was detected as the major allergen in both extracts. In addition, several proteins of 41, 50 and 95 kDa were also detected as major allergens in male crab, whereas a 75 kDa protein was detected as a major allergen in female crab. Other potential minor allergens were also observed at various molecular masses with the lower frequency (