title: Human autoantibody to topoisomerase II.
abstract: The rheumatic diseases are characterized by the production of autoantibodies that are usually directed against components of the cell nucleus. In this communication, we describe autoantibodies that recognize DNA topoisomerase II (anti-topoII) present in the serum of a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. Several lines of evidence indicate that this antibody recognizes topoisomerase II. First, it binds to the native enzyme in soluble extracts prepared from isolated chromosomes and effectively depletes such extracts of active enzyme. Second, the serum binds to topoisomerase II in immunoblots of mitotic chromosomes and chromosome scaffolds. Finally, the antiserum binds strongly to a fusion protein encoded by a cloned cDNA and expressed in Escherichia coli that (based on immunological evidence) represents the carboxy-terminal portion of chicken topoisomerase II. Autoantibodies such as the one described here may provide useful reagents for the study of human topoisomerase II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Heck
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Bordwell
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Rothfield
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Earnshaw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002645:Chickens; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000032:analysis; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007106:Immune Sera; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D004247:DNA; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II