Cloning and characterization of a Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome antigen

Ann Neurol. 1993 Jan;33(1):113-20. doi: 10.1002/ana.410330126.

Abstract

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome is a paraneoplastic neuromuscular disorder in which an immune response directed against a small-cell lung tumor crossreacts with antigens in the neuromuscular junction. To isolate and characterize the antigens, we screened a human fetal brain expression library with a high-titer serum from a patient with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. This screening resulted in the isolation of a complementary DNA clone encoding an antigen we call myasthenic syndrome antigen B (MysB). Approximately 43% (3 of 7) of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome sera specifically recognized MysB fusion protein, whereas none of 34 control sera did. The predicted amino acid sequence of this clone shows a high degree of homology to the beta subunit of calcium channel complexes. The MysB pre-messenger RNA is alternatively spliced to yield 3 forms of the protein differing in the domain between two highly conserved alpha-helical segments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antigens / genetics*
  • Antigens / immunology*
  • Base Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular*
  • DNA / genetics
  • Humans
  • Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome / immunology*
  • Molecular Probes
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA Splicing
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Molecular Probes
  • RNA, Messenger
  • DNA

Associated data

  • GENBANK/L08744
  • GENBANK/L08745
  • GENBANK/L08746
  • GENBANK/L08747
  • GENBANK/L08748
  • GENBANK/L23485
  • GENBANK/L23486
  • GENBANK/L23487
  • GENBANK/L23488
  • GENBANK/S60415