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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.
The interaction between airborne allergens and environmental microplastics is an emerging concern in the context of increasing plastic pollution and allergic disease prevalence. In this study, we investigated the molecular interaction between Cry j 1, the major allergen of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastic surfaces using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations integrated with computational epitope selection analyses. The simulations showed that Cry j 1 adsorbs onto PET primarily through hydrophobic and van der Waals interactions, with residues Pro165, Ala227, Tyr228, and Val163 contributing prominently to surface association. Mapping of selected epitope regions indicated that several linear B-cell epitopes remained solvent exposed following adsorption, whereas two CD4+ T-cell epitope regions (T5 and T6) contributed more directly to PET interaction. PET adsorption was accompanied by moderate changes in conformational dynamics, including reduced residue-level flexibility and localized secondary-structure adjustments, while the overall protein fold remained structurally stable throughout the simulation. Small decreases in radius of gyration and solvent-accessible surface area suggested mild adsorption-associated compaction rather than major unfolding. These findings indicate that PET association can influence the structural dynamics and interfacial behavior of Cry j 1 without extensive disruption of its global architecture. Because the study is entirely computational, the immunological implications remain hypothetical and require experimental validation. Nevertheless, this work provides a molecular-level framework for understanding how airborne microplastics may influence allergen behavior and protein-surface interactions in polluted atmospheric environments.
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