Monoclonal autoantibody from a (new zealand black x new zealand white)F₁ mouse and some human scleroderma sera target an <i>MT</i>_r 34,000 nucleolar protein of the U3 RNP particle

Abstract

A monoclonal IgG2a antinucleolar autoantibody (72B9) was obtained by fusion of spleen cells from a (New Zealand black x New Zealand white)F1 mouse with myeloma cells (P3x63Ag8.653). Antibody 72B9 recognized a highly conserved nucleolar antigen present in both animal and plant cells. The staining pattern produced by antibody 72B9 in different cell substrates was identical with those obtained by scleroderma antibodies reactive with a basic (pI 8.5) nucleolar protein of Mr 34,000, which is associated with the U3 RNP particle. Western blotting further confirmed its reactivity with this scleroderma-related U3 RNP protein.