Polyreactive anti-DNA monoclonal antibodies and a derived peptide as vectors for the intracytoplasmic and intranuclear translocation of macromolecules.

ABSTRACT: Naturally occurring polyreactive anti-DNA mAbs derived from a nonimmunized (NZB x NZW)F1 mouse with spontaneous lupus erythematosus penetrated and accumulated in the nuclei of a variety of cultured cells. These mAbs and their F(ab')2 and Fab' fragments, covalently coupled to fluorescein, peroxidase, or a 15-mer polynucleotide, also translocated to the cell nuclei. A 30-amino acid peptide corresponding to the combined sequences of the complementary-determining regions 2 and 3 of the heavy chain variable region of one mAb was able to penetrate into the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells of several lines. This peptide recognized DNA and was strongly polyreactive. Streptavidin-peroxidase conjugates complexed with the N-biotinylated peptide were rapidly translocated into cells. Similarly, peroxidas

SUBMITTER: Avrameas A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC20424 | biostudies-literature | 1998 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature