[The identification of the immunodominant gliadin epitope].

Recent efforts have piri-pointed a relevant sequence on gliadin, that may act as the immunodominant epitope in celiac disease. Independent reports from several leading laboratories identify a 33 amino acid segment spanning through residues 57-89, and excessively rich in proline and glutamine, as the putative epitope. A glutamine residue in position 65 is the site of deamidation by transglutaminase, promoting its recognition by DQ2-HLA. In addition, another gluten protein, glutenin, may be relevant to the pathogenesis in celiac disease.