Our long-range objective is to understand the etiology of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). Our present work has sought to provide a comprehensive picture of the different antigen-antibody systems that involve ribonucleoproteins in patients with this disease. The outcome has been the development of the hypothesis that specific nucleoproteins, especially the U1 snRNP, the nucleosome, and the Ro particle, actively elicit and possibly propagate autoimmune responses in this disease. To develop this hypothesis further, we are now concentrating our efforts to study the structure and biologic function of the autoantigenic Ku protein--a newly discovered chromatin component which we hypothesize plays a role in DNA repair or transposition--and the Ro particle--which is a central focus of autoimmune responses in patients with SLE. Work on the Ku protein will seek to establish its structure and biologic function. We will use cloning and standard biochemical approaches to characterize this protein structurally and to identify its autoantigenic epitopes. In addition, we will seek to identify its function using a variety of biological assay systems. Finally we will develop a new ELISA for measurement of anti-Ku antibodies in clinical studies using recombinant Ku protein as antigen. Work on the Ro particle will concentrate on developing specific probes--including monoclonal antibodies--that recognize it, devising a method for reconstituting it in vitro, and determining its location in cells. In addition, we will compare patient sera with immunized animal sera in terms of specific Ro protein epitopes recognized by each. This work will provide new information about the structure of the Ku protein and the Ro particle. It may succeed in defining the biological function of these newly recognized cellular elements. Information about the structure and function of the Ku protein and the Ro particle could help us understand why certain nucleoproteins become targets for selected autoimmune responses in patients with SLE.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AR032549-08
Application #
3156334
Study Section
General Medicine A Subcommittee 2 (GMA)
Project Start
1984-04-01
Project End
1992-03-31
Budget Start
1991-04-01
Budget End
1992-03-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
082359691
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Takeda, Y; Wise, K S; Wang, G et al. (1998) Human autoantibodies recognizing a native macromolecular structure composed of Sm core proteins in U small nuclear RNP particles. Arthritis Rheum 41:2059-67
Kanungo, J; Cameron, R S; Takeda, Y et al. (1997) DNA-dependent protein phosphorylation activity in Xenopus is coupled to a Ku-like protein. Biol Bull 193:147-52
McConnell, K R; Dynan, W S; Hardin, J A (1997) The DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (p460) is cleaved during Fas-mediated apoptosis in Jurkat cells. J Immunol 158:2083-9
Hirakata, M; Kanungo, J; Suwa, A et al. (1996) Autoimmunity to RNA polymerase II is focused at the carboxyl terminal domain of the large subunit. Arthritis Rheum 39:1886-91
Suwa, A; Hirakata, M; Takeda, Y et al. (1996) Autoantibodies to DNA-dependent protein kinase. Probes for the catalytic subunit. J Clin Invest 97:1417-21
Abendroth, F D; Peterson, S R; Galman, M et al. (1995) Identification of human autoantibodies to transcription factor IIB. Nucleic Acids Res 23:2770-4
Suwa, A; Hirakata, M; Takeda, Y et al. (1994) DNA-dependent protein kinase (Ku protein-p350 complex) assembles on double-stranded DNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 91:6904-8
Hirakata, M; Okano, Y; Pati, U et al. (1993) Identification of autoantibodies to RNA polymerase II. Occurrence in systemic sclerosis and association with autoantibodies to RNA polymerases I and III. J Clin Invest 91:2665-72
Griffith, A J; Blier, P R; Mimori, T et al. (1992) Ku polypeptides synthesized in vitro assemble into complexes which recognize ends of double-stranded DNA. J Biol Chem 267:331-8
Mamula, M J; Harley, J B (1992) Anti-Ro autoantibody with cross-reactive binding to the heavy chain of immunoglobulin G. Yale J Biol Med 65:277-87

Showing the most recent 10 out of 22 publications