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Polyethylene Terephthalate Micro/Nano-Plastics Induce Structural and Conformational Changes in Cedar Pollen Proteins: Spectroscopic and Molecular Dynamics Evidence
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Researchers investigated how polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro- and nanoplastics interact with cedar pollen proteins, particularly the major allergen Cry j 1. The study found that PET particles induce structural and conformational changes in pollen proteins, suggesting that microplastic pollution could potentially modify allergen behavior and influence pollen allergy responses.
Pollen allergy represents a growing public health concern, yet the role of microplastic pollution in modulating allergen behavior remains largely unresolved. In this study, we investigated interactions between polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics (0.2–12 µm; predominantly 0.4–1 µm) and cedar pollen proteins, with emphasis on the major allergen Cry j 1. Surface charge characterization using the pH drift method revealed two apparent points of zero charge in the acidic (pH 3.0–3.8) and near-neutral (~7.5) regions, indicating surface chemical heterogeneity. Protein adsorption experiments conducted at physiological pH (7.4) showed concentration-dependent and saturable removal of proteins from solution with increasing PET mass and a 3.10-fold preferential enrichment of aromatic-rich protein fractions. Spectroscopic analyses revealed adsorption-induced but non-denaturing structural perturbations, including increased exposure of aromatic residues and partial β-sheet destabilization. Complementary all-atom molecular dynamics simulations showed rapid and stable Cry j 1 adsorption onto PET, anisotropic surface accommodation, modest increases in solvent accessibility, and subtle secondary structure rearrangements without global unfolding. Together, these findings indicate that PET microplastics can selectively bind and structurally modulate pollen allergens in ways that may influence allergen persistence and epitope presentation, with potential implications for IgE-mediated sensitization in polluted environments.
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Laboratory tests examined how tiny plastic particles (microplastics) affect the structure of cedar pollen proteins when exposed to pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and ultraviolet radiation. The microplastics changed how the proteins responded to these stressors, sometimes preventing certain types of damage depending on which pollutant was present. The findings suggest microplastics actively alter how allergen proteins behave in polluted air rather than simply carrying them passively.
Molecular Dynamics Studies on Epitope-Resolved Structural Dynamics and Energetics of Japanese Cedar Cry j 1 Allergen Adsorption onto PET Microplastics
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Tiny plastic particles floating in the air may stick to pollen allergens (like those from Japanese cedar trees) and slightly change their shape, which could affect how our immune system reacts to them. Scientists used computer models to discover that plastic particles grab onto allergens mainly through chemical attraction, and while the allergen stays mostly intact, some parts of it change how they move and bend. This matters because as plastic pollution increases alongside rising allergies, we need to understand whether microplastics could be making allergic reactions worse—though more real-world testing is needed to confirm this.
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Researchers found that nanoplastic particles interact directly with proteins and fundamentally alter their secondary structure, effectively denaturing them in a manner that could cause cellular and ecological damage. The study presents the first direct evidence that plastic-protein interactions represent a distinct and potentially serious biological hazard beyond the previously studied effects of microplastic ingestion.
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Studies on adsorption and synergistic biological effects induced by microplastic particles and the Platanus pollen allergenic protein 3(Pla a3)
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Researchers studied how microplastics interact with a common pollen allergen protein from plane trees, finding that plastic particles can adsorb the allergenic protein onto their surfaces. UV-aged microplastics bound more of the allergen than pristine ones, and the combination of microplastics and allergen produced greater toxic effects on human cells than either substance alone. The findings suggest that airborne microplastics could worsen allergic responses by serving as carriers for pollen allergens.
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