Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are food allergens found first in fruits of the Rosaceae family and later
identified in other food plants. Their high structural stability causes them to behave as allergens in
cooked and processed foods. Allergenic LTPs have been identified in tomato fruits as well, but studies of
their thermal stability and structural characteristics are limited. In this article we report the identification
of the coding region for a novel 9 kDa LTP isoform in the tomato variety San Marzano, together with the
expression of the recombinant mature protein. The purified recombinant protein was further characterized
for its thermal stability and was found to bind 1-palmitoil-2-lysophosphatidylcholine (Lyso-C16)
after thermal treatments up to 105 C. Analysis of a modeling derived structure of the protein allowed the
identification of possible epitope regions on the molecular surface.