PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S O Hoch

Publications and source records attributed to S O Hoch.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Primary structure of a human small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide as deduced by cDNA analysis.

Anti-Sm is an antibody specificity often associated with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus. The polypeptides Sm-B'/B (estimated molecular mass 27 and 26 kDa, respectively) are primary targets of Sm antibodies. Sm-B'/B are part of the core polypeptides of small ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNP) involved in pre-mRNA splicing. Sm-B'/B share the same amino-terminal sequence as we determined by microsequence analyses of the purified polypeptides. Oligonucleotide probes based on that sequence were used to isolate seven clones from a human lymphoblastoid cDNA library in lambda gt10. The clones contained a single coding region for a protein of approximately 25 kDa. The predicted amino-terminal sequence was identical to that of the isolated Sm-B'/B polypeptides. In vitro translation experiments produced a protein immunoreactive with human polyclonal anti-Sm antibodies. The isolation of only one unique cDNA sequence suggests that Sm-B'/B may be post-translational variants encoded by a single message. The specific structural features which distinguish Sm-B' from Sm-B have yet to be determined. Northern blot analysis confirmed the diverse tissue and species distribution expected for these immunologically conserved polypeptides. The Sm-B'/B primary sequence is rich in proline (20%) and glycine (15%) residues. The prolines are concentrated in the carboxyl-terminal half of the protein and display a repetitive unit that is shared with other snRNP and nucleic acid binding proteins. Analysis of these arrays suggests an eight residue proline-rich consensus sequence with potential as either an RNA binding domain, or as a site of protein/protein interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Chemical cross-linking of Sm and RNP antigenic proteins.

Nuclear extracts, competent for in vitro premessenger RNA splicing, were chemically cross-linked with thiol-reversible reagents in order to study the organization of proteins within ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs) containing uridine-rich small nuclear RNAs (UsnRNPs). The distribution of select UsnRNP antigens within cross-linked complexes was determined by Western blotting of diagonal two-dimensional gels. On the basis of calculations from the molecular weights of cross-linked complexes containing UsnRNP common proteins B', B, and D, it is proposed that each of these proteins was associated with UsnRNP common proteins E and G. In addition, D' is proposed to be positioned close to D. The spatial distribution of UsnRNP common proteins was such that B' and B could not be cross-linked to D. The data also suggested that the 63-kDa U1 snRNP specific protein was cross-linked to other U1-specific proteins, particularly C, but not to the UsnRNP common proteins. We propose that part of the UsnRNP core of common proteins contains at least two asymmetrical copies of B':B:D:D':E:G with stoichiometries of 2:1:1:1:1:1 and 1:2:1:1:1:1.

Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed1988

Molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding the human Sm-D autoantigen.

Antibodies to the Sm-D polypeptide antigen are closely associated with the rheumatic disease systemic lupus erythematosus. Sm-D exists in the cell as one of the core proteins of the small nuclear ribonucleoprotein complexes implicated in RNA processing. We have isolated a cDNA clone, D45-2, coding for the Sm-D human nuclear antigen by screening a human B-lymphocyte cDNA library with synthetic oligonucleotide probes. The 1633-base-pair clone contains an open reading frame (ORF) 357 nucleotides long, capable of encoding a 13,282-dalton polypeptide. The Sm-D coding region is initiated at an AUG codon downstream from a sequence with excellent match to the consensus for the eukaryotic ribosome-binding site. The Sm-D ORF is preceded by a 150-nucleotide-long untranslated leader and followed by a 1126-nucleotide-long untranslated region containing four putative poly(A) signals. The predicted amino acid sequence reveals a (Gly-Arg)9 repeated motif at the C terminus, which may constitute one of the Sm-D immunoreactive determinants. Moreover, this C terminus shows interesting features: (i) a good homology to protamines as expected for a nucleic acid binding protein and (ii) a striking similarity to a region in the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

The human U1-70K snRNP protein: cDNA cloning, chromosomal localization, expression, alternative splicing and RNA-binding.

We have isolated and sequenced cDNA clones encoding the human U1-70K snRNP protein, and have mapped this locus (U1AP1) to human chromosome 19. The gene produces two size classes of RNA, a major 1.7-kb RNA and a minor 3.9-kb RNA. The 1.7-kb species appears to be the functional mRNA; the role of the 3.9-kb RNA, which extends further in the 5' direction, is unclear. The actual size of the hU1-70K protein is probably 52 kd, rather than 70 kd. The protein contains three regions similar to known nucleic acid-binding proteins, and it binds RNA in an in vitro assay. Comparison of the cDNA sequences indicates that there are multiple subclasses of mRNA that arise by alternative pre-mRNA splicing of at least four alternative exon segments. This suggests that multiple forms of the hU1-70K protein may exist, possibly with different functions in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Further characterization and subcellular localization of Sm and U1 ribonucleoprotein antigens.

Sera from patients with systemic autoimmune diseases often contain antibodies against small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) particles. Anti-Sm antibodies react with the entire set of U1, U2, U4, U5 and U6 (U1-U6) RNP particles whereas anti-(U1)RNP sera specifically recognize particles containing U1 RNA. Here we performed semi-quantitative immunoblotting using 16 human anti-Sm, 15 human anti-(U1)RNP sera and two mouse monoclonal antibodies to establish which snRNA-associated proteins carry antigenic determinants. Almost every (15/16) human anti-Sm sera recognized epitopes present on a 28-kDa (B/B') protein doublet and on a 16-kDa (D) polypeptide. Nine anti-(U1)RNP sera also recognized the B/B' doublet, but in all cases a much stronger reaction was observed with one or more of the specifically U1 RNA-associated 70 kDa, A or C antigens. With affinity-purified antibody fractions eluted from individual antigen bands on nitrocellulose blots it is shown that the anti-Sm-reactive polypeptides B/B' and D contain common epitopes. We also report the finding of one human anti-Sm serum with exclusive specificity for the B/B' doublet and a mouse monoclonal anti-Sm antibody recognizing only the D protein, indicating that these antigens also carry unique epitopes. In immunoprecipitation assays, purified anti-B/B' and -D antibodies react with (U1-U6) RNP while purified anti-70 kDa, anti-A and anti-C antibodies precipitate exclusively U1 RNP particles. Finally, we established the subcellular localization of Sm and U1 RNP antigens using a biochemical cell fractionation procedure. Part of the 70 kDa and B/B' antigens were found in a nuclease and high salt-resistant nuclear substructure, usually referred to as nuclear matrix, while the A and D antigens could be extracted completely from HeLa nuclei by ribonuclease treatment and subsequent high salt extraction.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed1985

A murine monoclonal antibody recognizes the 13,000 molecular weight polypeptide of the Sm small nuclear ribonucleoprotein complex.

Antibodies to the Sm antigen are closely associated with the rheumatic disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The Sm antigen exists in the cell as part of a ribonucleoprotein complex containing at least 10 polypeptides and five small nuclear RNA. The major immunoreactive Sm species are three polypeptides of m.w. 27,000, 26,000, and 13,000. By using an MRL/1 mouse, a strain which spontaneously produces a disease with many of the characteristics of human SLE, we have produced an anti-Sm hybridoma specific for the 13,000 m.w. Sm polypeptide. This monoclonal antibody is sufficient to allow for the rapid bulk isolation of the entire class of Sm snRNP, and can be used sequentially with an anti-(U1)RNP monoclonal antibody to subfractionate the Sm snRNP particles.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Specificity and idiotypic analysis of a monoclonal anti-Sm antibody with anti-DNA activity.

To investigate the mechanisms of anti-Sm expression in murine systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the idiotypic determinants of a monoclonal anti-Sm antibody were studied. This antibody, 2G7, was derived from the fusion of spleen cells of an autoimmune MRL-lpr/lpr mouse with the 653 myeloma. Specificity for Sm was demonstrated by an ELISA with the use of affinity-purified Sm as well as immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled RNA. An anti-2G7 antiserum was prepared in a rabbit and rendered specific for idiotype by extensive absorption against BALB/c and MRL-lpr/lpr monoclonal proteins. The resulting antiserum detected determinants found on 2G7 as well as on two MRL anti-DNA antibodies, 6/P and 6/N, an independently derived MRL-lpr/lpr anti-Sm called 7.13, and the BALB/c myeloma FLOPC 21. Two distinct determinants could be demonstrated by the creation of cross-reactive idiotype systems by using the various monoclonal antibodies as ligands for the anti-idiotype. Both idiotypes were demonstrated in sera of normal and autoimmune mice, although MRL +/-/+/- mice had the highest levels of strains tested. To explain the pattern of idiotypic relatedness, 2G7 was tested for anti-DNA activity by ELISA. 2G7 displayed activity for single-stranded DNA as well as synthetic DNA and RNA homopolymers. Absorption analysis indicated that the anti-DNA and anti-Sm binding activities were the product of the same antibody. These results suggest that anti-Sm and anti-DNA may be related by both idiotype and antigenic specificity, providing a mechanism for their common expression in SLE.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of U small nuclear RNA-associated proteins.

Differential immunoaffinity chromatography using a combination of autoimmune antibodies allows for the rapid bulk separation of specific small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). Passage of a HeLa cell extract over a column constructed of human anti-Sm autoantibodies results directly in the elution of complexes containing the small nuclear RNA species, U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6, and nine major polypeptides of molecular weight 69,000, 32,000, 27,000, 26,000, 18,500, 13,000, 11,000 doublet, and less than 10,000. Passage of crude extracts through a column bearing murine monoclonal antibodies directed against the 69,000 molecular weight (U1)RNP peptide gives an enriched population of U1 snRNP particles in the retained material. When the flowthrough material from the (U1)RNP column is passed through an anti-Sm column, the retained material is enriched in U2, U4, U5 plus U6 snRNP complex. The 69,000, 32,000, and 18,500 molecular weight polypeptides are confined to the U1 fraction while the remaining proteins are recovered in both fractions. The procedure is simple and rapid, producing complexes with a high degree of resolution and in sufficient yield to provide a ready source of snRNP complexes for functional studies.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1984

Association of an RNA polymerase III transcription factor with a ribonucleoprotein complex recognized by autoimmune sera.

RNA polymerase III transcription can be inhibited in vitro by two sera from patients with autoimmune diseases. The first serum, designated anti-SS-B (or La), has antibodies directed against a 50,000 dalton polypeptide that is part of a larger ribonucleoprotein complex. The second serum, designated anti-SpNo, recognizes a target antigen polypeptide of greater than 100,000 daltons as well as the SS-B antigen. Both sera selectively remove required transcription factors from the transcription extract, and inhibition can be rescued by the addition of a HeLa S100 extract to the depleted transcription system. The HeLa S100 extract was sequentially fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and phosphocellulose. The high salt eluate from the latter column was also able to rescue the anti-SS-B inhibition as was the immunoaffinity-purified SS-B ribonucleoprotein complex isolated from HeLa, Xenopus or rabbit thymus. Immunoblots of the active fractions indicated that all contained the SS-B immunoreactive polypeptide, but probes of replica filters for DNA-binding suggested that the transcription factor is not the SS-B antigen but a 64,000 dalton polypeptide component of the antigen ribonucleoprotein complex. SS-B is itself an RNA-binding protein and could be shown to bind nascent 5S RNA transcripts in vitro. Differential ammonium sulfate precipitation and DNA cellulose chromatography has confirmed that a group of 64-68 K dalton polypeptides are components of the SS-B ribonucleoprotein complex associated with transcription factor activity.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of the La (SS-B) antigen from several mammalian sources.

The La or SS-B antigen is associated with rheumatic diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjogren's syndrome, and is part of a larger ribonucleoprotein complex. Immunoaffinity chromatography allowed for the efficient separation of the La antigen from the bulk of the cellular proteins, with a minimum of protease exposure. Protein blot analysis of the affinity-isolated material indicated a major immunoreactive polypeptide of 50,000 m.w. A comparison of this antigen in a number of mammalian sources (human, rabbit, and rat) suggested strong conservation of the native polypeptide m.w. Likewise, in a direct comparison of this antigen from Epstein-Barr virus-infected cells in which there are distinct differences in the antigen-associated RNA species, the immunoreactive polypeptide species were of similar size. The La protein is readily susceptible to endogenous proteolysis, with the resulting generation of smaller, discrete polypeptides that still retain antigenicity. By using the La protein to monitor potential degradation, we have developed a simple two-step procedure to isolate the La-associated snRNP complex. The complexes thus isolated provide material suitable as a source of both the active antigen and of the functional ribonucleoprotein complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen and to rheumatoid arthritis nuclear antigen identify the same polypeptide.

Patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have elevated titers of precipitating antibody toward an antigen designated RA nuclear antigen (RANA). Anti-RANA reactivity has been associated with prior Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Using the protein blot technique, we have identified, in extracts of WI-L2, an EBV+ nonproducer B-lymphoblast line, a Mr 80,000 polypeptide that is reactive with anti-RANA-containing sera. This same polypeptide can be recovered from RANA precipitin bands. The Mr 80,000 polypeptide appears to be EBV-associated, as a homologous antigen was detected in two other EBV+ cell lines, Daudi and Raji, but was not present in three EBV- human cell lines tested, HeLa, BJAB, and Ramos. Anti-RANA antibodies and antibodies reactive with the Mr 80,000 polypeptide also appear coincidently in the sera of individuals exhibiting an EBV infection (infectious mononucleosis). Further analysis of the RANA-associated Mr 80,000 polypeptide suggested its identity with the previously recognized EBV-associated nuclear antigen designated EBNA. The Mr 80,000 antigen shares with EBNA the properties of being a heat-stable, DNA binding protein. EBNA is traditionally assayed by a complement fixation reaction and anti-Mr 80,000 antibodies were shown to be reactive when a complement fixation assay was used in the immunoblot. Finally, when the Mr 80,000 antigen was used to absorb an anti-RANA/anti-EBNA serum, both antibodies were reduced.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital↗
PubMed1983

Isolation of intact Sm/RNP antigens from rabbit thymus.

A comparison of the immunologically reactive components of the highly conserved Sm and RNP autoantigens from various mammalian tissue sources suggested the complete absence of a major 26K to 27K Sm-specific polypeptide in rabbit thymus extracts prepared by conventional procedures. A simple modification of the solubilization protocol, achieved by sonicating a suspension of commercial rabbit thymus acetone powder in 0.35 M NaCI, gave an extract containing the full complement of immunologically reactive Sm and RNP proteins detectable in other mammalian species. Without further manipulation, extracts were immediately passed through an immunoaffinity column constructed from human SLE IgG with both anti-Sm and anti-RNP reactivities. The proteins of the purified Sm/RNP were recovered in sufficient quantities for direct analysis by protein staining or immunoblot assays. The antigenic polypeptides were recovered intact and consisted of a single 73K RNP-specific species together with Sm-specific proteins of 26K to 27K (a doublet) and 13K. These proteins were easily visible by protein stain as were nonantigenic components of 35K, 32K, 11K, and less than 10K. The same polypeptides were present in affinity-purified Sm/RNP from HeLa cells, although the RNP protein was slightly smaller. The resolution and integrity of the complexes isolated by this simple two-step procedure, requiring less than 4 hr for completion, is remarkable, and the protein composition of the product compares quite favorably with antigens isolated from other sources by considerably more lengthy and laborious procedures.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Anti-RNP monoclonal antibodies derived from a mouse strain with lupus-like autoimmunity.

systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and related rheumatic and connective-tissue diseases are often associated with the production of antibodies directed against a variety of specific cellular components. Recent evidence indicates that two such autoantigens, the Sm and RNP antigens recognized by SLE sera, exist in small ribonucleoprotein complexes found in the nuclei of higher eukaryotes. Studies of the structure and function of these autoantigenic particles with human sera used as probes have been limited because of the multiplicity of autoantibodies often found in an individual serum. Through this communication, we report that MRL/Mp-+/+ (MRL/n) mice, which spontaneously develop a disease exhibiting many of the characteristics of human SLE, possess anti-RNP antibodies in addition to anti-Sm and anti-DNA as previously reported. Spleen cells from one such autoimmune mouse were used to produce a stable hybridoma secreting antibodies that react simultaneously with a protein of Mr 40,000 and a doublet of approximately 70,000, a pattern of reactivity identical to and characteristic of human SLE anti-RNP autoantibodies.

Animals↗