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RecJ exonuclease: substrates, products and interaction with SSB.

The RecJ exonuclease from Escherichia coli degrades single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) in the 5'-3' direction and participates in homologous recombination and mismatch repair. The experiments described here address RecJ's substrate requirements and reaction products. RecJ complexes on a variety of 5' single-strand tailed substrates were analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift in the absence of Mg2+ ion required for substrate degradation. RecJ required single-stranded tails of 7 nt or greater for robust binding; addition of Mg2+ confirmed that substrates with 5' tails of 6 nt or less were poor substrates for RecJ exonuclease. RecJ is a processive exonuclease, degrading approximately 1000 nt after a single binding event to single-strand DNA, and releases mononucleotide products. RecJ is capable of degrading a single-stranded tail up to a double-stranded junction, although products in such reactions were heterogeneous and RecJ showed a limited ability to penetrate the duplex region. RecJ exonuclease was equally potent on 5' phosphorylated and unphosphorylated ends. Finally, DNA binding and nuclease activity of RecJ was specifically enhanced by the pre-addition of ssDNA-binding protein and we propose that this specific interaction may aid recruitment of RecJ.

DNA↗

Anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibody-mediated congenital heart block.

When anti-SSA/Ro antibodies are present in sera of mothers with connective tissue diseases, the incidence of congenital heart block (CHB) has been reported to be 1-2% in live births. The risk of recurrence of CHB in a subsequent child remains limited to 10-16%. CHBs are usually complete but CHB of the first or second degree can also be observed. In some cases, CHB is associated with endocardial fibroelastosis. Late-onset cardiomyopathy may occur later in life in these children. The mortality of CHB, which is predominant in utero and in the first months of life, is an estimated 16-19%. A pacemaker is required in about 66% of cases. Curative treatment of CHB is based on fluorinated steroids (dexamethasone or betamethasone) that do cross the placenta in an active form. Guidelines are available but further studies are needed to optimize treatment.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

Anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La autoantibodies bind the surface of apoptotic fetal cardiocytes and promote secretion of TNF-alpha by macrophages.

Despite the near universal association of congenital heart block and maternal Abs to SSA/Ro and SSB/La, the intracellular location of these Ags has made it difficult to substantiate their involvement in pathogenicity. To define whether components of the SSA/Ro-SSB/La complex, which translocate during apoptosis, are indeed accessible to extracellular Abs, two approaches were taken: immunoprecipitation of surface biotinylated proteins and scanning electron microscopy. Human fetal cardiocytes from 16-24-wk abortuses were cultured and incubated with staurosporine to induce apoptosis. Surface biotinylated 48-kDa SSB/La was reproducibly immunoprecipitated from apoptotic, but not nonapoptotic cardiocytes. Surface expression of SSA/Ro and SSB/La was further substantiated by scanning electron microscopy. Gold particles (following incubation with gold-labeled sera containing various specificities of anti-SSA/Ro-SSB/La Abs and murine mAb to SSB/La and 60-kDa SSA/Ro) were consistently observed on early and late apoptotic cardiocytes. No particles were seen after incubation with control antisera. To evaluate whether opsonized apoptotic cardiocytes promote inflammation, cells were cocultured with macrophages. Compared with nonapoptotic cardiocytes or apoptotic cardiocytes incubated with normal sera, apoptotic cardiocytes preincubated with affinity-purified Abs to SSB/La, 52-kDa SSA/Ro, or 60-kDa SSA/Ro increased the secretion of TNF-alpha from cocultured macrophages. In summary, apoptosis results in surface accessibility of all SSA/Ro-SSB/La Ags for recognition by circulating maternal Abs. It is speculated that in vivo such opsonized apoptotic cardiocytes promote an inflammatory response by resident macrophages with damage to surrounding conducting tissue.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗