Identification of epitopes of the A1aBx and A5A4B3 subunits of glycinin antigenic in three animal species

While soybean protein is a valuable food supplement it has been recognised as an important food allergen. The soybean seed storage protein, glycinin, has been identified as an allergen.

A tiled peptide array of the A1aBx and A5A4B3 subunits of glycinin was screened to identify the epitopes that bind antibodies from multiple species. We have identified four regions in these two glycinin subunits that are antigenic in most or all of the species tested. One region is implicated in an allergic response in dogs by the dog's ability to bind IgE.