# ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS OF THE KU-ANTIGEN

> **NIH NIH R01** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 1988 · $87,211

## Abstract

The goal of the present proposal is to establish the amino acid
sequences of the antigenic determinants of the Ku-antigen
involved in autoimmune diseases.  The Ku-antigen has been
characterized as a DNA binding protein complex of two
polypeptides, 86/70 kD.  It is recognized by sera from patients
with scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus.  The
prerequisites for the proposed experiment are:  1) monoclonal
antibodies to the antigen have been developed; 2) the protein
complex has been purified and characterized, and 3) cDNA clones
expressing epitopes of the antigen have been cloned and partially
sequenced.  The number of the epitopes recognized by the
monoclonal antibodies will be determined and mapped on the
protein complex.  This will provide the basis for analysis of the
binding specificities of human autoantibodies.  Sera from patients
with autoimmune diseases will be screened for antibodies to the
antigen using purified antigen in ELISA, immunoblot and
radioimmunoassays.  The epitopes recognized by the autoimmune
sera will be determined in competition experiments with the
monoclonal antibodies.  These epitopes will be mapped on the
antigen by using recombinant DNA technology and the monoclonal
antibodies.  The amino acid sequences of the epitopes will be
derived from the cDNA clones and sublibraries of their fragments
constructed in expression vectors.  Alternatively, antigenic
peptides produced by proteolytic degradation of the antigen will
be purified and sequenced.  These experiments will allow us to
investigate the possible correlations between the epitope
spectrum and the clinical parameters during the development of
the autoimmune diseases.  The established amino acid sequences
can be used for developing synthetic peptides as potential
diagnostic probes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3159332
- **Project number:** 1R01AR039308-01
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FXKMA43NTV21
- **Principal Investigator:** MARIANA YANEVA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $87,211
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1988-04-01 → 1991-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3159332

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3159332, ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS OF THE KU-ANTIGEN (1R01AR039308-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3159332. Licensed CC0.

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