A method for binding specificity analysis of anti-DNA autoantibodies in SLE

A pattern of differential binding between an NZB/NZW mouse-derived monoclonal anti-ssDNA antibody, V'D2, and restriction fragments of plasmid pBR322 DNA was shown by electrophoresis of the fragments through a denaturing agarose gel followed by their transfer onto nitrocellulose membrane and subsequent reaction of the immobilized DNA with the antibody and 125I-protein A. The antibody showed preferential binding to a 328 base pair Alu I + Hinf I fragment (denoted FD) (AT content, 60%), compared with the other fragments (AT contents, 40-56%). In dot blot assays the antibody bound only to poly(dT) and poly(dA,dT), failing to bind to other synthetic deoxyribopolynucleotides even at the highest concentration tested (300 ng). In competition experiments, the ability of unlabeled DNA to inhibit binding of V'D2 to FD increased with AT content of the DNA. It is concluded that V'D2 has preference for AT-rich DNA. In addition, poly(dA,dT) inhibited binding to a greater extent than either poly(dA) or poly(dT), indicating that base sequence may be important in defining the antigenic determinant. The method, appropriately modified, may be applicable to a wide range of natural nucleic acids and monoclonal antibodies, allowing detection and isolation of specific DNA fragments for detailed studies of antigenic determinants.