Nucleosome-specific antibody from an autoimmune MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mouse.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the binding properties and variable-region sequences of LG4-1, a monoclonal antibody from an autoimmune MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mouse that reacts specifically with nucleosome core particles and represents a new antinuclear antibody specificity.


METHODS
The reactivity of the antibody against various nuclear substrates was determined using an enzymatic immunoassay, and the variable-region genes were sequenced from messenger RNA, using the dideoxy chain termination method.


RESULTS
LG4-1 was found to react with nucleosome core particles but not with individual histones and DNA, or with various histone-histone and histone-DNA complexes. It was demonstrated that this antibody is encoded by a combination of variable-region genes and gene segments that have undergone few somatic mutations.


CONCLUSIONS
The nucleosome core particle expresses a unique conformational autoepitope(s) resulting from the ordered association of histones and DNA.
Losman
J A
JA
Garden State Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey.
Fasy
T M
TM
Novick
K E
KE
Massa
M
M
Monestier
M
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000378:metabolism; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000737:chemistry; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D009707:Nucleosomes