Studies on the Chemistry and Immunology of Ragweed Pollen Proteins

Abstract

Summary

The protein of ragweed pollen has been separated into fractions. The one fraction has relatively large molecular size and is responsible for the precipitin reaction with pollen antiserum. The other fraction is made up of proteins of relatively small molecular size and is the skin reactive protein of pollen. This last observation is similar to that of Benjamins and his collaborators, 1 who in their work on grass pollen, came to the conclusion that the skin reacting substance is of small molecular size. Our results differ from those obtained by Harley. 2 He concludes that in timothy pollen the skin reactive fraction consists of proteins of the albumin type. We failed to produce hyposensitization of ragweed sensitive patients by the use of the fraction containing small protein molecules. There is an indication that it may be possible to do so when it is used in connection with large protein molecules. Benjamins and his collaborators found that the skin reactivity of the small protein molecule from grass pollen could be enhanced by the addition of protein of large molecular size. The immunizing properties of the fraction consisting of the larger protein molecules are now being studied.