RNP Particles, Splicing and Autoimmune Diseases

Information stored in DNA needs to be translated into functional proteins. Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles play a major role in this process. In many autoimmune diseases, antibodies are directed against components of these particles. Detailed protocols for analysing the structure and function of RNPs are described in this manual.

1 Isolation and Immunochemical Characterization of hnRNP Particles.- 2 The lnRNP Particle - A Naturally Assembled Complex of Pre-mRNA and Splicing Factors.- 3 Intrinsic Fluorescence Techniques for Studies on Protein-Protein and Protein-RNA Interactions in RNP Particles.- 4 Procedures for Three-Dimensional Reconstruction from Thin Sections with Electron Tomography.- 5 Purification and Electron Microscopy of Spliceosomal snRNPs.- 6 Detection of Autoantibodies to Extractable Cellular Antigens.- 7 Methods in Immunolocalization of Autoantigens.- 8 In vitro Splicing of Pre-mRNA in HeLa Extracts.- Abbreviations.