Tick Histamine-Binding Proteins: Isolation, Cloning, and Three-Dimensional Structure

• Published in: Molecular cell Vol. 3; no. 5; pp. 661 - 671
• Main Authors: Paesen, G.C., Adams, P.L., Harlos, K., Nuttall, P.A., Stuart, D.I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-05-1999
• Subjects: Animals; Binding Sites - physiology; Carrier Proteins - chemistry; Cloning, Molecular; Crystallography; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors - chemistry; Female; Gene Expression - physiology; Hemeproteins - chemistry; Histamine - metabolism; Histamine Antagonists - chemistry; Insect Proteins - chemistry; Insect Proteins - genetics; Insect Proteins - metabolism; Ixodidae; Lipocalin 1; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors - chemistry; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors - metabolism; Protein Structure, Secondary; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Proteins - chemistry; Proteins - genetics; Receptors, Histamine - chemistry; Receptors, Histamine - genetics; Receptors, Histamine - metabolism; Receptors, Histamine H1 - chemistry; Receptors, Histamine H1 - genetics; Receptors, Histamine H1 - metabolism; Receptors, Histamine H2 - chemistry; Receptors, Histamine H2 - genetics; Receptors, Histamine H2 - metabolism; Receptors, Histamine H3 - chemistry; Receptors, Histamine H3 - genetics; Receptors, Histamine H3 - metabolism; Rhipicephalus appendiculatus; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Salivary Proteins and Peptides - chemistry; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Ticks
• ISSN: 1097-2765; 1097-4164; 1097-4164
• DOI: 10.1016/S1097-2765(00)80359-7

High-affinity histamine-binding proteins (HBPs) were discovered in the saliva of
Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks. Their ability to outcompete histamine receptors indicates that they suppress inflammation during blood feeding. The crystal structure of a histamine-bound HBP, determined at 1.25 Å resolution, reveals a lipocalin fold novel in containing two binding sites for the same ligand. The sites are orthogonally arranged and highly rigid and form an internal surface of unusual polar character that complements the physicochemical properties of histamine. As soluble receptors of histamine, HBPs offer a new strategy for controlling histamine-based diseases.