Biopolymers and cell. 1998; 14 (3): 203 - 209

Structural and functional studies of cardiac tropomyosin as; autoantigen at dilated cardiomyopathy

L. L. Sidorik, O. M. Fedorkova, T. K Kovenja, V. I. Bobyk, N. V. Rodnin, G. Kh. Matsuka

Tropomyosin have been purified to homogeneity from normal, ana' affected by dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) human myocardium and from skeletal muscle as well. The molecular masses of both preparations of cardiac tropomyosins were identical. The immuno-screening of DCMP patients sera by EUSA method have shown the presence of autoantibodies directed against cardiac tropomyosin in the limited number of sera. No immunoreactivity liave been detected against skeletal tropomyosin. Western blot analysis detected any linear determinants in tropor.'iyosin molecule under denaturating conditions. We suggest that cardiac tropomyosin doesn't undergoes sufficient structural changes at dilated cardiomyopathy progression.