Extractable nuclear antigen

Extractable nuclear antigens (ENAs) are over 100 different soluble cytoplasmic and nuclear antigens. They are known as "extractable" because they can be removed from cell nuclei using saline and represent six main proteins: Ro, La, Sm, RNP, Scl-70, Jo1. Most ENAs are part of spliceosomes or nucleosomes complexes and are a type of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNPS). The location in the nucleus and association with spliceosomes or nucleosomes results in these ENAs being associated with additional RNA and proteins such as polymerases. This quality of ENAs often makes it difficult to purify and quantify their presence for clinical use.[1]

  1. ^ Banhuk, Fernanda Weyand; Pahim, Bruna Corrêa; Jorge, Alex Sandro; Menolli, Rafael Andrade (30 September 2018). "Relationships among Antibodies against Extractable Nuclear Antigens, Antinuclear Antibodies, and Autoimmune Diseases in a Brazilian Public Hospital". Autoimmune Diseases. 2018: 1–8. doi:10.1155/2018/9856910. PMC 6186355. PMID 30364021.