A recombinant group 1 house dust mite allergen, rDer f 1, with biological activities similar to those of the native allergen.

Serum IgE directed against Der f 1, a protease found in the feces of Dermatophagoides farinae, correlates well with allergic sensitization to house dust mite in humans and is a risk factor for developing asthma. Native Der f 1 (nDer f 1) is produced as a pre-pro form and processed to an approximately 25-kDa mature form. We have expressed recombinant forms of Der f 1 (rDer f 1) in Pichia pastoris using AOX1-promoter expression vectors. Fusion of either the pro-enzyme form or the mature form to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha factor pre-pro sequence resulted in secretion of the mature form of the protein from P. pastoris. The secreted protein was heterogeneously glycosylated at a single N-glycosylation site and had an apparent molecular mass of 35-50 kDa. Both the alpha factor signal peptide and the pro-enzyme region were efficiently processed during secretion. A version of the pro-enzyme with a mutated consensus N-linked glycosylation site was secreted from P. pastoris as a mature, unglycosylated, approximately 25-kDa protein. The IgE binding activity of this unglycosylated rDer f 1 was similar to that of glycosylated forms produced by P. pastoris and to nDer f 1 obtained from mites. Thus, oligosaccharides are not required for secretion from P. pastoris or for IgE binding in vitro. Recombinant and native versions of Der f 1 displayed protease activity on casein zymogram gels. The availability of a highly purified recombinant Der f 1 will facilitate experimental and clinical studies of mite allergy.