title: The Caenorhabditis elegans rop-1 gene encodes the homologue of the human 60-kDa Ro autoantigen.
abstract: As a first step toward establishing a genetic system for the elucidation of the cellular role(s) of the Ro ribonucleoproteins (RoRNP), we have cloned the gene encoding the homologue of the human 60-kDa Ro protein (Ro60) in Caenorhabditis elegans (Ce). This Ce gene is present as a single copy and contains a 643-codon open reading frame interrupted by three introns. The encoded protein, Rop1p, shares 40% identity and 63% overall similarity with both the human and amphibian Ro60. Recombinant protein has been produced in Escherichia coli and used to elicit anti-Rop1p antibodies. Immunological analysis indicated that the Ro60 epitopes have been poorly conserved. Gene-fusion expression studies in transgenic nematodes will provide a new avenue of research to shed light on the function of these particles.
authors.affiliation: Département de biochimie, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Labbé
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jannatipour
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rokeach
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000099207:SS-A Antigen
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D000099207:SS-A Antigen; C116006:RO60 protein, human