Isolation of cDNA clones expressing the RNP, Sm and La autoantigens

Human sera containing the autoimmune specificities anti-RNP, anti-Sm or anti-La were used to screen a ν gt 11 human cDNA library. Positive clones were isolated and further characterized. To verify the specificity of the antibodies reacting with the cloned antigen, immobilized fusion proteins were used to select epitope specific antibodies. These were then used in immunofluorescence and immunoblotting experiments. The cDNA inserts from nositive clones were cloned into plasmid vectors to facilitate sequencing and mapping of the regions coding for the different autoantigenic epitopes.