Biomedical subjects

J D Keene

Publications and source records attributed to J D Keene.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

Temporal correlation of antibody responses to different epitopes of the human La autoantigen.

To investigate the temporal relationship of antibody responses to different La epitopes, sequential sera from nine patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren's syndrome were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibody binding to a series of recombinant fusion proteins containing different regions of the La molecule. The results of this analysis indicate that antibody responses to four different La fragments vary in parallel over time. This finding is supported by a statistical analysis indicating that the changes in antibody levels between the six pairs of responses were highly correlated (P less than 0.001). Furthermore, we show by immunoaffinity purification that antibodies to the three nonoverlapping La protein fragments do not cross-react with other fragments and, hence, represent independent populations. These results suggest that anti-La antibodies are coordinately produced to different epitopes on the La molecule, possibly reflecting an antigen-driven mechanism.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

PubMed1989

A common RNA recognition motif identified within a defined U1 RNA binding domain of the 70K U1 snRNP protein.

We have defined the RNA binding domain of the 70K protein component of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein to a region of 111 amino acids. This domain encompasses an octamer sequence that has been observed in other proteins associated with RNA, but has not previously been shown to bind directly to a specific RNA sequence. Within the U1 RNA binding domain, an 80 amino acid consensus sequence that is conserved in many presumed RNA binding proteins was discerned. This sequence pattern appears to represent an RNA recognition motif (RRM) characteristic of a distinct family of proteins. By site-directed mutagenesis, we determined that the 70K protein consists of 437 amino acids (52 kd), and found that its aberrant electrophoretic migration is due to a carboxy-terminal charged domain structurally similar to two Drosophila proteins (su(wa) and tra) that may regulate alternative pre-messenger RNA splicing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

Inhibitory effects of vesicular stomatitis virus on cellular and influenza viral RNA metabolism and protein synthesis.

Infection with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) results in the rapid inhibition of cellular macromolecular synthesis, including transcription, translation, and maturation of the U1 and U2 snRNPs. Unlike infection with VSV, influenza virus infection did not result in the inhibition of either the processing of U1 and U2 snRNAs or the assembly of the RNPs. Although influenza virus relies on the cellular splicing apparatus to generate viral mRNAs, the maturation of snRNPs was inhibited during double infections with VSV. However, this inhibition of snRNP maturation had no effect on the splicing of a cellular pre mRNA in extracts prepared from VSV-infected HeLa cells. Thus, the effects of VSV on the processing and assembly of snRNPs appear to involve virus-specific functions and unique cellular targets. Coinfection with VSV and influenza virus resulted in the dramatic inhibition of influenza virus transcription; polyadenylated mRNAs corresponding to the influenza virus NP and NS1 proteins could not be detected by Northern blot analysis. However, reduced levels of the influenza virus replicative templates were still synthesized during double infection. Coinfection with VSV also resulted in the inhibition of influenza viral mRNA translation, even when superinfection with VSV was delayed until 3 or 6 hr after influenza virus infection. VSV required at least 2 hr to affect the inhibition of translation; this corresponded to the time after VSV infection when inhibition of cellular protein synthesis was evident. These results demonstrate that, in contrast to adenovirus, the VSV-mediated inhibition of cellular macromolecular synthesis may be effective against influenza virus.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Molecular structure of the La and Ro autoantigens and their use in autoimmune diagnostics.

Recombinant autoantigens of the La and Ro specificities have been produced and analyzed using immunological and genetic techniques. Human La cDNA and genomic clones were isolated that encode a protein of 46.7 kDa (408 amino acids). An active La gene consisting of 11 exons was localized on chromosome 2 and has an upstream transcriptional regulatory region resembling 'housekeeping' genes as well as elements homologous to the H-ras gene promoter which is presumably a 'regulated' gene. A long stretch of alpha helix is predicted in the middle of the La molecule and this region contains an immunodominant epitope. Human Ro protein is encoded by a 1.7 kb mRNA and is 60.6 kDa (538 amino acids) in size. A variety of cDNA clones was isolated and characterized, including those from liver, endothelium, brain and placenta. Long regions of predicted alpha helix also reside in the Ro protein but no sequence similarities of La protein have been found. A possible zinc finger motif that is characteristic of other known nucleic acid binding proteins residues near the middle of the Ro protein. Both the La and Ro proteins contain an extended RNA recognition motif about a region of 80 amino acids but they are less similar in this respect than the known snRNA-binding proteins [1].

Autoantigens↗

PubMed1989

Epitope specificity of anti-La antibodies from patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

To investigate patterns of autoreactivity in Sjögren's syndrome, the epitope specificity of anti-La antibodies was determined using recombinant antigens bearing sequences of the amino, middle, and carboxyl portions of the La molecule. Sera from patients with primary as well as secondary Sjögren's syndrome reacted with all three fragments, although the magnitude of the responses varied markedly among individuals. Furthermore, the proportion of antibody binding directed to the different La epitopes showed considerable individual variations, but these patterns were not correlated with specific clinical manifestations. These results suggest that quantitative and qualitative aspects of anti-La responses in Sjögren's syndrome are determined by factors distinct from those determining the clinical expression of disease.

Antibodies↗

PubMed1989

Viral transcription is necessary and sufficient for vesicular stomatitis virus to inhibit maturation of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins.

Infection of baby hamster kidney cells with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) results in the accumulation of immature U1 and U2 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) that contain precursor U RNAs and at least some of the proteins specific for U1 and U2 snRNAs but lack the Sm complex of proteins that is common to these U snRNAs. The VSV function required for this effect is not known, but direct inhibition of cellular transcription did not alter the maturation of U1 and U2 snRNPs. On the other hand, viral transcription but not viral translation was required to inhibit U1 and U2 snRNP maturation. Temperature shift experiments with the mutant G114 showed that ongoing viral transcription was necessary, but that viral mRNA was not required for this inhibition. Furthermore, the VSV function involved in the inhibition of maturation of U1 and U2 snRNPs had a small UV target size of approximately 10 to 20 nucleotides. We demonstrate that temperature-sensitive mutants of VSV can be used as a tool to initiate the assembly of snRNPs in infected cells. These results are compatible with the suggestion that perturbation of snRNP metabolism by VSV precedes and is distinct from the effect of VSV on cellular RNA synthesis, although VSV leader RNA may be involved in both these functions.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

A specific 31-nucleotide domain of U1 RNA directly interacts with the 70K small nuclear ribonucleoprotein component.

We have defined the nucleotide sequence of a protein-binding domain within U1 RNA that specifically recognizes and binds both to a U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein component (the 70K protein) and to the previously defined RNA-binding domain of the 70K protein. We have investigated direct interactions between purified U1 RNA and 70K protein by reconstitution in vitro. Thirty-one nucleotides of U1 RNA, corresponding to stem-loop I, were required for this interaction. Nucleotides at the 5' end of U1 RNA that are involved in base pairing with the 5' splice site of pre-mRNA were not required for binding. In contrast to other reports, these findings demonstrate that a specific domain of U1 RNA can bind directly to the 70K protein independently of any other snRNP-associated proteins.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1989

The U1 RNA-binding site of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP)-associated A protein suggests a similarity with U2 snRNPs.

The site of interaction between human U1 RNA and one of its uniquely associated proteins, A, was examined with in vitro binding assays. The A protein bound directly to stem-loop II of U1 RNA in a region which exhibits sequence similarity to U2 RNA. The similarity with U2 RNA was in a region that has been shown to interact with a U2 RNA-associated protein. The A protein-binding site on U1 RNA overlapped a previously described epitope for an RNA-specific human autoantibody (S. L. Deutscher and J. D. Keene, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:3299-3303, 1988), supporting the hypothesis that the anti-RNA antibody originated as an anti-idiotypic response to A protein-specific autoantibodies.

Autoantibodies↗

PubMed1988

Analysis of autoantibody binding to different regions of the human La antigen expressed in recombinant fusion proteins.

To determine the specificity of autoantibodies for various antigenic sites on a self-protein molecule, sera from 19 patients with anti-La antibodies were tested for their reactivity with molecularly cloned La protein fragments. By quantitative ELISA, anti-La sera from patients with various connective tissue diseases were shown to react with La fusion proteins containing different regions of the La molecule. Two recombinant La fragments containing the carboxyl three-fourths and the middle one-third of the La sequence, respectively, bound higher levels of anti-La antibodies than the two fragments representing the amino and carboxyl terminals. Purified bovine La protein effectively competed for the binding of human autoantibodies to three of the four recombinant La fusion proteins, suggesting similarity in antigenic presentation between the La epitopes in these fusion proteins and the native La molecule. Immunoadsorption experiments showed that most anti-bovine La protein antibodies were removed from a human serum by affinity chromatography by using the fusion protein containing the carboxyl three-fourths of the La sequence, thus supporting the results obtained by quantitative solid phase ELISA. These studies demonstrate that anti-La autoantibodies recognize three La fragments representing separate nonoverlapping regions of the La sequence and are compatible with a mechanism of autoantibody production based on an immune response to the entire self-protein molecule.

Autoantibodies↗

PubMed1988

Genomic structure and amino acid sequence domains of the human La autoantigen.

La is an autoimmune RNA-binding protein of 47 kDa that plays a role in the transcription of RNA polymerase III. Both genomic and complementary DNAs were isolated that encompass the coding sequence of the human La molecule. The genomic clones encompass 11 exons and a putative G/C-rich promoter upstream of the mRNA start site. The cDNA sequence encodes a protein of 408 amino acids and can be divided into two structural domains based upon amino acid content and protease sensitivity. An unusually long stretch of 130 amino acids, much of which was predicted to form a stable alpha-helix, was found near the middle of the protein between the two domains. A ribonucleoprotein (RNP) consensus sequence was found just NH2-terminal to the long alpha-helix. The RNP consensus sequence is split into two exons by the fifth intron. Expression of three separate fragments of the La protein in Escherichia coli showed that a strongly autoimmune-reactive portion resides in the fragment containing the RNP consensus sequence and most of the long alpha-helical core. Autoantibodies from La patients also reacted with the terminal regions of the protein, but the extent of reactivity varied among patients. Differences in reactivity of autoantibodies to each portion of La protein may reflect an evolution of recognition of different epitopes during the development of the autoimmune response. These findings support an antigen-driven mechanism for autoimmune reactivity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1988

Quantitative immunoassay of anti-La antibodies using purified recombinant La antigen.

A purified recombinant La fusion protein was tested in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantitate anti-La responses. This protein contained the immunodominant region of the La molecule fused to beta-galactosidase. In solid-phase assays, recombinant La protein was solubilized in urea and bound to polystyrene wells without loss of immunoreactivity. The recombinant-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay proved to be a sensitive method for the detection of anti-La binding, and it accurately distinguished anti-La precipitin positive sera from normal sera.

Antibodies↗

PubMed1988

A sequence-specific conformational epitope on U1 RNA is recognized by a unique autoantibody.

An autoantibody from a patient with lupus-overlap syndrome was found to bind a specific region of U1 RNA. By using RNA sequence analysis, immunoprecipitation, and competition experiments with in vitro synthesized fragments of U1 RNA, a region of 40 nucleotides representing a stem-loop secondary structure was found to be an immunoreactive domain. This antibody recognized a conformational epitope because neither the RNA stem nor the RNA loop alone was immunoprecipitable. Antisense U1 RNA, U1 DNA, and other small RNAs were not reactive with the antibody. While the origins of nucleic acid-binding antibodies are unknown, this RNA-specific autoantibody probably originated by direct presentation to the immune system or as an anti-idiotype against a more common U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein-specific autoantibody. Thus, these findings have implications for the mechanisms of autoimmune recognition and provide an immunological approach to probing RNA structure and protein-RNA interactions.

Autoantibodies↗

PubMed1988

Molecular analysis of the 60-kDa human Ro ribonucleoprotein.

Ro, or Sjogren syndrome type A (SS-A), antigen is the most prevalent of the human systemic autoimmune specificities and exists as an inabundant ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP) composed of a 60,649-Da protein, as defined here by cDNA cloning, and the human Y RNAs. The recombinant 60-kDa Ro protein and human Y1 RNA were reconstituted in vitro, and the binding was enhanced by divalent cations. A region of the Ro amino acid sequence revealed a resemblance to the RNP consensus motif found in most RNA-binding proteins. In addition, Ro contained a potential "zinc-binding finger" motif that was distinct from the RNP consensus region and that may participate in the interaction with human Y RNAs or with other proteins. The recombinant Ro fusion protein also proved useful for the detection of autoantibodies in the sera of patients with autoimmune disorders. Possible functions of the Ro RNPs and their relationship to RNA polymerase III transcription are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1987

A human autoimmune protein associated with U1 RNA contains a region of homology that is cross-reactive with retroviral p30gag antigen.

cDNA encoding a 70 kd protein (70K) associated with U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) was cloned from a human brain-stem library using autoantibodies from patients with connective tissue disease. The cDNA-derived amino acid sequence contains 23 residues homologous to a region of murine leukemia virus group-specific antigen p30gag. The homology residues in an antigenic portion of the 70K protein and is defined by a core consensus sequence, ETPEEREERRR, that occurs as a tandem repeat in p30gag of most mammalian type C retroviruses. Anti-p30gag antibodies recognized a recombinant 70K-LacZ fusion protein as well as U1 snRNPs. Using synthetic peptides as competitors, we demonstrated that the region of homology encompasses the site of immunological cross-reactivity. Thus autoantibodies against U1 snRNPs were elicited by immunization with p30gag. On the basis of these findings, we suggest a role for retroviruses in the initiation of autoimmunity.

Antibodies↗

PubMed1987

Rapid inhibition of processing and assembly of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins after infection with vesicular stomatitis virus.

After infection of baby hamster kidney cells with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), processing and assembly of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNP) were rapidly inhibited. The U1 and U2 snRNAs accumulated as precursor species approximately 3 and 10 nucleotides longer, respectively, than the mature RNAs. Alteration in snRNP assembly was noted because the precursor snRNAs were not associated with the U-series RNA-core protein complex in infected cells. However, antibodies specific for the U2 RNA-binding protein, A', were able to precipitate pre-U2 RNAs from VSV-infected cells. These results indicated that precursors to U2 RNA were bound to A' and remained bound during virus infection. Analysis of the synthesis of proteins normally associated with U1 and U2 RNAs indicated that synthesis was unaffected at times when snRNP assembly with core proteins was blocked by the VSV. These findings suggested that the core proteins associate with one another in the absence of the snRNAs in VSV-infected cells. They further suggest a correlation between the inability of the core complex to bind the U-series snRNPs and the failure to process the 3' ends of U1 and U2 RNAs in VSV-infected cells. These effects of VSV on snRNP assembly may be related to the shutoff of host-cell macromolecular synthesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Autoantibodies specific for U1 RNA and initiator methionine tRNA.

Autoantibodies reactive with specific nuclear and cytoplasmic small RNAs were identified by immunoprecipitation of HeLa cell RNA. Approximately 30% of antisera examined from patients with autoimmune disorders contained anti-RNA antibodies. Two previously undescribed specificities--anti U1 RNA and anti-initiator methionine tRNA--were identified. Anti-RNA antibodies were reactive with gel-purified species as well as with RNA synthesized in vitro using the SP-6 transcription system. Antigenic mapping using two sera specific for the human initiator methionine tRNA revealed separate epitopes, one of which is conserved in formyl-methionine initiator tRNA from Escherichia coli. RNA fragmentation studies further suggested that secondary or tertiary tRNA structure is required for antibody recognition. The mammalian U1 RNA specific antibodies did not precipitate small RNAs of yeast but were highly reactive with yeast ribosomal RNA, thus indicating a possible relationship between these RNA species. Results obtained with these antisera are discussed in terms of higher order structure of small RNA molecules as well as the role of nucleic acid antibodies in the autoimmune phenomenon.

Autoantibodies↗

PubMed1986

Conservation of the 3' terminal nucleotide sequences of Ebola and Marburg virus.

The 3' RNA base sequences of several Marburg (MBG) and Ebola (EBO) virus isolates have been determined. A comparison of these 3' terminal noncoding sequences with those of other negative strand RNA viruses suggests a unique phylogenic niche for Marburg and Ebola viruses. The translation initiation site and 35 N-terminal amino acids of the 3' proximal coding gene of a Zaire strain of Ebola virus was predicted. In addition, putative leader RNA sequences preceding the first gene are discussed in terms of possible regulatory functions.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1985

Alu RNA-protein complexes formed in vitro react with a novel lupus autoantibody.

We have screened sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus for reactivity with RNA transcribed in vitro using HeLa whole cell extracts. Sera from 14 out of 114 patients precipitated an RNA transcribed by RNA polymerase III from a plasmid containing an Alu family sequence (i.e. the repetitive DNA sequence that is cut by the Alu restriction enzyme) located upstream from the human gamma G-globin gene. These Alu transcripts were not precipitated by anti-La, anti-Sm, anti-RNP or anti-Ro antibodies, suggesting that Alu RNA was precipitated by a previously undescribed lupus specificity. Analysis of [35S]methionine-labeled immunoprecipitates indicated that Alu RNA binds a protein of about 68 kDa. This protein may be Alu specific since three different Alu transcripts were precipitated by the anti-Alu sera whereas another RNA polymerase III transcript, adenovirus VA I RNA, was not precipitated by the same sera.

Adenoviridae↗