Buckwheat 2S albumin (Fag e 2)

Buckwheat 2S albumin, primarily represented by the major allergen Fag e 2, is a seed storage protein found in common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) (UniProt P84763). It belongs to the 2S albumin family within the prolamin superfamily and is characterized by a conserved skeleton of eight cysteine residues forming four stabilizing disulfide bonds (PMID: 17910329). Biologically, these proteins serve as essential nutrient reservoirs, providing nitrogen and sulfur to the developing seedling during germination. Clinically, Buckwheat 2S albumin is a potent allergen responsible for severe IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions, including life-threatening anaphylaxis (PMID: 16549935). Due to its resistance to heat and gastrointestinal digestion, it remains immunologically active upon ingestion, making it a primary marker for clinical reactivity in buckwheat-allergic patients (PMID: 23978325). In the biotechnology industry, it is a key target for component-resolved diagnostics and the development of allergen-specific immunotherapies (AIT) designed to induce immune tolerance. Therapeutic strategies involve the use of recombinant versions or hypoallergenic derivatives to desensitize the immune system and reduce the risk of accidental allergic episodes (PMID: 32543456).

Other names

Fag e 216-kDa buckwheat allergenBWp162S albumin storage proteinFagopyrum esculentum 2S albumin

Induction of immune tolerance and desensitization through repeated exposure to the allergen or its epitopes to shift the immune response from Th2 to Th1/Treg; neutralization of circulating IgE to prevent binding to high-affinity receptors on mast cells and basophils.