Biomaterial Database

Small nuclear RNA associated proteins: autoantigens in connective tissue diseases. 1989

W J Van Venrooij, and P T Sillekens

Department of Biochemistry, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (smRNPs) are complexes of uridylic acid (U)-rich snRNAs with at least 7 core proteins and a varying number of specific proteins. Most of these proteins act as targets for autoantibodies in autoimmune patients. In the last two years, a number of cDNAs coding for these antigens have been cloned and some specific features of the deduced amino acid sequences of these proteins are discussed. The recombinant antigens, produced in high yields by the microorganism, can be used very efficiently in qualitative and quantitative ELISA tests. It is to be expected that the availability of rather large amounts of pure antigen will be of great help in elucidating the question of why these autoantibodies are generated and what their relation to the disease might be.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008180	Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic	A chronic, relapsing, inflammatory, and often febrile multisystemic disorder of connective tissue, characterized principally by involvement of the skin, joints, kidneys, and serosal membranes. It is of unknown etiology, but is thought to represent a failure of the regulatory mechanisms of the autoimmune system. The disease is marked by a wide range of system dysfunctions, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the formation of LE cells in the blood or bone marrow.	Libman-Sacks Disease,Lupus Erythematosus Disseminatus,Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,Disease, Libman-Sacks,Libman Sacks Disease
D008947	Mixed Connective Tissue Disease	A syndrome with overlapping clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polymyositis, and Raynaud's phenomenon. The disease is differentially characterized by high serum titers of antibodies to ribonuclease-sensitive extractable (saline soluble) nuclear antigen and a "speckled" epidermal nuclear staining pattern on direct immunofluorescence.	Connective Tissue Disease, Mixed,Sharp Syndrome,MCTD,Syndrome, Sharp
D002352	Carrier Proteins	Proteins that bind or transport specific substances in the blood, within the cell, or across cell membranes.	Binding Proteins,Carrier Protein,Transport Protein,Transport Proteins,Binding Protein,Protein, Carrier,Proteins, Carrier
D003240	Connective Tissue Diseases	A heterogeneous group of disorders, some hereditary, others acquired, characterized by abnormal structure or function of one or more of the elements of connective tissue, i.e., collagen, elastin, or the mucopolysaccharides.	Connective Tissue Disease,Disease, Connective Tissue,Diseases, Connective Tissue
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001323	Autoantibodies	Antibodies that react with self-antigens (AUTOANTIGENS) of the organism that produced them.	Autoantibody
D001324	Autoantigens	Endogenous tissue constituents with the ability to interact with AUTOANTIBODIES and cause an immune response.	Autoantigen,Autologous Antigen,Autologous Antigens,Self-Antigen,Self-Antigens,Antigen, Autologous,Antigens, Autologous,Self Antigen,Self Antigens
D012315	RNA Caps	Nucleic acid structures found on the 5' end of eukaryotic cellular and viral messenger RNA and some heterogeneous nuclear RNAs. These structures, which are positively charged, protect the above specified RNAs at their termini against attack by phosphatases and other nucleases and promote mRNA function at the level of initiation of translation. Analogs of the RNA caps (RNA CAP ANALOGS), which lack the positive charge, inhibit the initiation of protein synthesis.	RNA Cap,5' Capped RNA,5' mRNA Cap Structure,Cap, RNA,Caps, RNA,RNA, 5' Capped
D012342	RNA, Small Nuclear	Short chains of RNA (100-300 nucleotides long) that are abundant in the nucleus and usually complexed with proteins in snRNPs (RIBONUCLEOPROTEINS, SMALL NUCLEAR). Many function in the processing of messenger RNA precursors. Others, the snoRNAs (RNA, SMALL NUCLEOLAR), are involved with the processing of ribosomal RNA precursors.	Low Molecular Weight Nuclear RNA,Small Nuclear RNA,snRNA,Chromatin-Associated RNA,Small Molecular Weight RNA,Chromatin Associated RNA,RNA, Chromatin-Associated
D039381	RNA Cap-Binding Proteins	Proteins that specifically bind to RNA CAPS and form nuclear cap binding protein complexes. In addition to stabilizing the 5' end of mRNAs, they serve a diverse array of functions such as enhancing mRNA transport out of the CELL NUCLEUS and regulating MRNA TRANSLATION in the CYTOPLASM.	Cap Binding Protein,Cap Binding Proteins,Cap-Binding Protein Complex,RNA Cap Binding Proteins,mRNA Cap Binding Proteins,Binding Protein, Cap,Binding Proteins, Cap,Cap Binding Protein Complex,Cap-Binding Proteins, RNA