# THE RIBONUCLEOPROTEIN AUTOANTIGENS LA AND RO

> **NIH NIH R01** · AGOURON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. · 1988 · $173,834

## Abstract

A long existent medical puzzle is why some patients with certain rhematic
and connective tissue diseases produce antibodies against their own
cellular components.  An understanding of the pathogenesis of these
diseases would be facilitated if one could critically define the structure
and function of the target antigens.  The subjects of this proposal are two
such antigens, La (or SS-B/Sjogren's syndrome-B) and Ro (or SS-A).  In each
case, the immunoreactive species have been identified as protein in
nature.  These polypeptides will be isolated and described in terms of any
unique or shared physical properties utilizing a number of techniques
including affinity chromatography, one- and two-dimensional gel
electrophoresis and protein blots.  Both La and Ro function within the
context of larger ribonucleoprotein complexes designated snRNPs (small
nuclear RNPs) or scRNPs (small cytoplasmic RNPs) and these will be
isolated, aided by the use of differential immunoaffinity chromatography.
Each particle will be identified as to its characteristic protein moieties
with particular emphasis on the possible discrimination of individual La
and Ro snRNPs (scRNPs) that contain unique RNA species (including those of
viral origin) and on the delineation of those particles that contain both
La and Ro polypeptides.  The end result of these experiments will be to
describe discrete, characterized entities that willhave relevance in the
development of more defined and sensitive diagnostic assays than are
currently available, and that will facilitate functional studies of these
antigens and their associated complexes.  To the latter end, an RNA
polymerase III transcription factor has been associated with the La snRNP
by this laboratory; this factor will be characterized as to its
interactions with DNA templates and with the other components of the active
transcription complex.  Lastly, anti-La and Ro-monoclonal antibodies will
be produced to assist in these studies; they will be made using the
hybridoma technology and implemented by different protocols of in vivo and
in vitro immunization.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3157572
- **Project number:** 5R01AR036387-03
- **Recipient organization:** AGOURON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** SALLIE O HOCH
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $173,834
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-04-01 → 1989-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3157572

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3157572, THE RIBONUCLEOPROTEIN AUTOANTIGENS LA AND RO (5R01AR036387-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3157572. Licensed CC0.

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