Identification of human Sm and (U1) RNP antigens by immunoblotting

When HeLa nuclear extracts or ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) from rat liver nuclei were used as antigens, a monospecific anti-(U1)RNP serum recognized in each preparation only 1 polypeptide of 68 or 70 kilodalton (kd) respectively. With a serum of combined anti-Sm/(U1)RNP specificity, HeLa nuclear extracts showed 3 additional antigenic polypeptides of 29, 28, and 16 kd, whereas only 2 additional polypeptides of 27 and 16 kd were observed in rat liver RNPs. However, no antigenic reaction at 68/70 kd was detected with a monospecific anti-Sm serum, indicating that the 68/70 kd antigen is specific for anti-(U1)RNP antibodies. When commercially available ENA extract was used as antigen source only weak immunostaining in the range 70-40 kd and at 16 kd was seen. Elution experiments with anti-Sm antibodies bound to their specific polypeptides demonstrated that neither protein degradation nor cross-reaction was responsible for recognition of the 29/28 and 16 kd antigens by this serum, and that in fact 2 different autoantibody systems are involved.