ANTIBODIES AGAINST EMC VIRUS RNA-VPG RECOGNIZE TYR-(5'P-]O)-PU AND IMMUNOSTAIN INFECTED-CELLS

Covalent complexes of nucleic acids and proteins are widespread among viruses, Covalent complexes of RNA and proteins are proposed to exist in eukaryotic cells, The goal of this work was to obtain specific anti bodies to the covalent linkage unit (CLU) between virus RNA and protei n to search cellular RNA-protein complexes, Antibodies were generated by direct immunization of a rabbit with the BSA-coupled EMC virus RNA- VPg complex. By a dot-blot immunoassay and immunofluorescent microscop y it was found that the antibodies specifically recognize both EMC vir us RNA-VPg and synthetic CLU-containing compounds. Thus, a fraction of the antibodies was directed to CLU. (C) 1998 Federation of European B iochemical Societies.