Identification of autoantibody reactive integral brain membrane antigens. A two-dimensional analysis.

A procedure to identify murine autoantibody reactive, integral membrane antigens of brain is described. This involved the isolation of integral membrane antigens from whole brain followed by two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoretic separation and transfer to nitrocellulose (NC) membrane. A 2D 'map' was then constructed by an effective total protein staining procedure. This 'map' was subsequently compared with similar blots that were reacted with autoimmune sera, stained for immunoglobulin and the reactive antigens identified. Advantages of this procedure include economy in the reagents and sera used, not having to use radioactive substances and much shorter working time. This technique will permit the identification of brain reactive autoantibodies.