anticodon and Myositis

Sera of some patients afflicted with the inflammatory disease myositis contain antibodies of the anti-PL-12 type. A fraction of these polyclonal autoantibodies specifically precipitates the fully matured human tRNA(Ala) bearing the anticodon IGC (PL-12 antigen). Earlier work (Bunn & Mathews, 1987, Science 238:116-119) had shown that the epitopes are located entirely within the anticodon stem-loop of the tRNA(Ala). Here we demonstrate that human anti-tRNA(Ala) autoantibodies immunoprecipitate a synthetic polyribonucleotide containing inosine (I) and N1-methylinosine (m1I) separated by 2 nt as in the anticodon stem-loop of human tRNA(Ala). The shortest polyribonucleotide that can be immunoprecipitated corresponds to the pentanucleotide IpGpCpm1IpUp, which corresponds to part of the anticodon loop of human tRNA(Ala) and lacks the stem-loop structure. The efficiency of immunoprecipitation was about four times greater with longer polyribonucleotides capable of forming a stem-loop structure, and was abolished by altering the relative positions of I and m1I within the synthetic polynucleotide. Synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotide analogs of the tRNA(Ala) stem-loop, containing the sequence dIpdGdCdm1Ip, are not antigenic. Our results show that human anti-tRNA(Ala) autoantibodies selectively recognize chemical details of modified nucleotides (the 6-keto group of inosine-34 and the 6-keto group and the N1-methyl groups of N1-methylinosine-37) within an anticodon loop structure of a tRNA molecule. We also describe the chemical synthesis of the phosphoramidite derivatives corresponding to N1-methylinosine and N1-methyl-2'-deoxyinosine for use in the automatic chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides containing N1-methylinosine and N1-methyl-2'-deoxyinosine.

Topics: Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; Anticodon; Base Sequence; Chromatography, Thin Layer; DNA; Epitopes; Humans; Inosine; Molecular Mimicry; Myositis; Nucleic Acid Conformation; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Precipitin Tests; RNA, Transfer, Ala

Autoantibodies to aminoacyl-transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetases are common in the human autoimmune diseases polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Sera of the PL-12 specificity contain separate antibodies reacting with alanyl-tRNA synthetase and alanine tRNA (tRNAAla). The antibodies to tRNA recognize at least six distinguishable human tRNAAla species grouped into two sequence families. The antibody-reactive determinants on the tRNA were identified through ribonuclease protection and oligonucleotide binding experiments. The antibody binding site is a seven- to nine-nucleotide sequence containing the anticodon loop and requires an intact anticodon. No requirement for anticodon stem structure or sequence is observed, although the 5' portion of the stem is protected from nuclease attack. Antibodies from several patients appear to share the same specificitym, indicating that the antibodies are induced by a unique sequence feature in the immunogen.

Topics: Alanine-tRNA Ligase; Anticodon; Autoantigens; Autoimmune Diseases; Epitopes; Myositis; Nucleic Acid Conformation; RNA, Transfer; RNA, Transfer, Ala; RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific; Structure-Activity Relationship

Autoantibodies to aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are common in myositis. Sera of one particular class, the PL-12 specificity, contain separate antibodies reacting with alanyl-tRNA synthetase and tRNA(Ala). We show here that the anti-RNA antibodies recognize at least six distinguishable human tRNA(Ala) species, grouped in two sequence families. We have elucidated the complete nucleotide sequence of two tRNA(Ala) species from HeLa cells that are closely related to silkworm moth tRNA(Ala), as well as the partial sequence of a third species. All three contain the anticodon IGC. No tRNAs with pyrimidine in the "wobble" position were found in the immunoprecipitate, and such species may fail to interact with the antibody.

Topics: Alanine; Anticodon; Autoantibodies; Autoimmune Diseases; Base Sequence; Myositis; Oligoribonucleotides; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; RNA, Transfer; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid