0000000000004913
AUTHOR
Holger Bartsch
ISOLATION OF RAT CDNA CLONES CODING FOR THE AUTOANTIGEN SS-B/LA - DETECTION OF SPECIES-SPECIFIC VARIATIONS
Clones of cDNA coding for the autoantigen La (or SS-B) were isolated from a library made from rat liver. A comparison of the rat La cDNA (encoding from nt 38 to 1281 for rat La protein) with the sequences known for human and bovine La protein resulted in the identification of species-specific inserts. The inserts seem to be the result of multiplication of flanking sequences during evolution. In addition to these variations, we observed that rat La cDNAs exhibit non-canonical polyadenylation sites. Finally, a databank search resulted in the identification of a DNA sequence originally termed as TAG or TSG20X (GenBank accession No. X61893) which represents the C terminus of mouse La/SS-B prote…
Analysis of expression of an alternative La (SS-B) cDNA and localization of the encoded N- and C-terminal peptides
AbstractA deletion of an (A)-residue was detected in a cDNA encoding for the nuclear autoantigen La/SS-B. The cDNA was recently isolated from a cDNA library made from peripheral blood lymphocytes of a patient with primary Sjögren's Syndrome. The region, where the deletion occurred, represents a hot spot region in the La gene(s). It leads to a frame shift mutation and a premature stop codon eleven amino acids downstream of the deletion site within one of the protease sensitive regions of the La protein. In spite of the frame shift mutation expression of full length La protein occurred efficiently in E. coli. Full length La protein was also made in SF9 cells infected with recombinant baculovi…
The nuclear autoantigen La/SS-B: Mapping and sequencing of the gene and the three retropseudogenes
One target of autoantibodies in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or primary Sjogren's syndrome is the nuclear autoantigen La/SS-B. Lambda clones and cosmids were isolated, which contained the sequences of the La gene and the three La pseudogenes. They were used for preparation of a physical map. Finally, the La gene and pseudogenes were sequenced. The pseudogenes were characterized as retropseudogenes. Their evolutionary ages were estimated to be approx. 4, 4.5 and 5 million years. Inserts of 4, 16 and 24 nucleotides, which were mostly A-residues, were found in exon 7 of the respective pseudogene. The oldest pseudogene contained the longest insert, the youngest pseudogene …
Environmental Isocyanate-Induced Asthma: Morphologic and Pathogenetic Aspects of an Increasing Occupational Disease
Occupational diseases affect more and more people every year. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), in 2000 an estimated amount of at least 160 million people became ill as a result of occupational-related hazards or injuries. Globally, occupational deaths, diseases and injuries account for an estimated loss of 4% of the Gross Domestic Product. Important substances that are related to occupational diseases are isocyanates and their products. These substances, which are used in a lot of different industrial processes, are not only toxic and irritant, but also allergenic. Although the exposure to higher concentrations could be monitored and restricted by technical means, v…
A frame shift mutation in a hot spot region of the nuclear autoantigen La (SS-B).
A hot spot region was identified in the exon 7 of the nuclear autoantigen La (SS-B). Two La cDNAs were identified which contained a frame shift mutation in the hot spot region. One La cDNA was isolated from a cDNA library made from peripheral blood lymphocytes of an autoimmune patient with primary Sjogren's Syndrome, the other La cDNA was isolated from a human liver cDNA library. The patient's La cDNA had a deletion and the liver La cDNA had an insert of an (A)-residue at the same position. Inserts of 4, 16 and 24 more or less homogeneous (A)-residues were found at the same site in the three La retropseudogenes. The hot spot region located in one of the major autoepitope regions of the La a…