title: 5'-3' and 3'-5' translation of the same RNA results in hydropathically similar peptides that are antigenically related.
abstract: When a single RNA sequence is read in either the 5'-3' or 3'-5 direction, the translated peptides often are hydropathically similar even though their sequences may be different. To investigate whether hydropathically similar peptides might also be antigenically related, two peptides were synthesized from the substance P anti-sense RNA transcript: CAU CAA UCC AAA GAA CUG CUG AGG CUU GGG UCG. Translation of this RNA in the 5'-3' direction and in the 3'-5' direction resulted in two different peptides. HQSKELLRLGS and AGFGVVKKPNY, respectively. As anticipated, both peptides shared similar hydropathic profiles but were quite different with respect to their sequences. To examine their antigenic relatedness, mice were immunized with either peptide, and monoclonal antibodies were produced. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, it was possible to demonstrate that the majority of monoclonal antibodies, selected for reactivity against the original immunogen, also reacted with the other peptide. The observed binding was determined to be specific since reactivity could be blocked with either soluble peptide. Thus, we demonstrate that hydropathically similar peptides obtained from the same RNA but translated in opposite directions are antigenically related despite difference in amino acid sequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bost
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D001483:Base Sequence; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D013373:Substance P / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D000939:Epitopes; D010455:Peptides; D013373:Substance P; D012313:RNA