Goji berries superfood – contributions for the characterisation of proteome and IgE-binding proteins

Goji berries’ bioactive compounds, which allowed classifying them as superfruits, led to an enormous increase of its consumption in western countries. However, the potential risk of allergy is a concern. In this study, we aimed to characterise the proteome of goji berries (Lycium barbarum) and identify proteins with putative role in the allergic reaction (IgE-binding proteins). We firstly used two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry (MS) to characterise goji berries’ proteome, and then Immunoblot reactivity with plasma from tomato and potato (same botanical family, Solanaceae) allergic individuals was assessed to characterise goji berries IgE-binding proteins. An inhibition assay was further performed to evaluate cross-reactivity among potato, tomato and goji berries. We significantly identified 93 out of the 180 MS analysed spots, corresponding to 29 protein functions. From these, 11 could be identified as goji berries IgE-binding proteins. We further demonstrated cross-reactivity between goji berries, tomato and potato.枸杞（Goji berries）凭借其生物活性化合物（bioactive compounds）被归类为超级水果（superfruits），这使其在西方国家的消费量大幅攀升。然而，其潜在的过敏风险仍是学界关注的焦点。本研究旨在解析枸杞（Lycium barbarum）的蛋白质组（proteome），并鉴定出在过敏反应中具有推定作用的IgE结合蛋白（IgE-binding proteins）。研究首先采用二维凝胶电泳（two-dimensional gel electrophoresis，2D）结合质谱（mass spectrometry，MS）技术对枸杞蛋白质组进行表征；随后通过免疫印迹反应（Immunoblot reactivity），检测茄科（Solanaceae）植物番茄、马铃薯过敏患者的血浆与枸杞蛋白的反应性，以鉴定枸杞的IgE结合蛋白。此外，本研究还开展了抑制试验（inhibition assay），以评估枸杞、番茄与马铃薯三者之间的交叉反应性（cross-reactivity）。本研究共对180个经质谱分析的蛋白斑点完成鉴定，成功识别出93个，对应29种蛋白质功能。其中11个被鉴定为枸杞IgE结合蛋白。本研究还证实了枸杞与番茄、马铃薯之间存在交叉反应性。