title: Characterization of antibodies against methyl-pppN cap structure: plant U3 small nucleolar RNA is recognized by these antibodies.
abstract: In eukaryotes, many small nuclear RNAs contain either a trimethylguanosine cap structure of a gamma-monomethyl (me) cap structure. Previously, we reported the characterization of anti-mepppG antibodies which recognize methyl-capped RNAs with G as the initiation nucleotide. We report here the preparation of antibodies against mepppN cap structure. Anti-mepppN antibodies recognized only mepppN from a mixture of mepppN and pppN and immunoprecipitated mepppA-capped U3 small nucleolar RNA from a mixture of cowpea cell RNAs. These anti-mepppN antibodies recognized methylated nucleoside triphosphates (mepppA, mepppC, mepppG and mepppU) with nearly equal efficiency; however, these antibodies did not recognize methyl phosphate or methylated mononucleotides. These antibodies will be useful in the identification and characterization of all methyl-capped RNAs no matter which is the initiation nucleotide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D012314:RNA Cap Analogs / Q000276:immunology*; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D012314:RNA Cap Analogs; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear