Nuclear antigens: characterization of the acidic nuclear ribonucleoprotein-Sm-antigen complex by analytical and preparative isoelectric focusing.

The soluble ribonucleoprotein nuclear antigen (RNP), associated with the Sm antigen and present in extracts of rabbit thymus acetone powder, was purified by ion-exchange chromatography. Analytical isoelectric focussing (IEF) showed two bands at pH 5.2 and two bands at pH 5.4. After treatment by RNAse these 4 bands disappeared, and a new band with a pI of 6.1, representing the intact protein moiety, appeared. During preparative IEF in granulated gels the antigenicity of RNP was lost. Only the Sm antigen could be detected by counter-immunoelectrophoresis. Fractions with Sm antigenicity refocussed as two intense bands (pI 6.8 and 7.2) and one or two fainter bands (pI 6.1). On reducing SDS-PAGE the SM antigen revealed two bands of apparent molecular weights of about 110,000 and 28,500, indicating a total molecular weight of 138,500.