Characterization of Allergen Extracts by Polyacrylamide Gel Isoelectrofocusing and Radioimmunosorbent Allergen Assay

Abstract

Commercial extracts of birch pollen and birch allergen extracts prepared from the pollen of five different Betula species were characterized by gel isoelectrofocusing and paper-disk radioimmunosorbent allergen assay, as described in earlier communications. No correlation between the distribution of total protein and allergenic activity in the fractions could be demonstrated. The major common allergen components appeared to have pI values between 4.5 and 5.5 in both the commercial and our own extracts. Additional minor components with both lower and higher pI could be demonstrated in extracts obtained from some Betula species.