(1) Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, 202001 Aligarh, India;(2) Present address: Department of Biochemistry, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, 800014 Patna, India
Abstract:
Immunoaffinity purified Sm/RNP antigens from buffalo and goat liver were studied to determine the role of RNA and proteins
towards the antigenicity of Sm and RNP antigens. A more direct approach using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on nylon beads
has been utilized to look into the problem. The effect of enzyme treatment and the role of RNA and protein fractions in influencing
antigenicity have been described. RNA seems to be involved in the maintenance of RNP specific polypeptides in suitable conformation
so as to keep them in solution. Removal of RNA leads to insolubilization of RNP specific polypeptides. Antibodies to Sm and
RNP antigens have been shown to cross react with poly A containing heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein with no cross reactivity
with thymus RNA or DNA.