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Biochemical characterization of mono(ADP-ribosyl)ated poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase

H Mendoza-Alvarez1, R Alvarez-Gonzalez

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth 76107-2699, USA.

Biochemistry
|April 9, 1999
PubMed

Insights

This study biochemically characterizes mono(ADP-ribosyl)ated poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Findings show PARP modification occurs exclusively as single ADP-ribose units, primarily within its automodification domain, not polymeric chains.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Enzymology

Background:

  • Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is a key enzyme in DNA repair.
  • Understanding PARP's catalytic mechanism, particularly its ADP-ribosylation activity, is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To biochemically characterize the mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation of PARP.
  • To identify the specific sites and products of PARP ADP-ribosylation.

Main Methods:

  • Activity gel assays and SDS-PAGE with [32P]-3'-dNAD+.
  • Chemical release of enzyme-bound ADP-ribose units.
  • High-resolution polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and peptide mapping.

Main Results:

  • PARP undergoes mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation with [32P]-3'-dNAD+ at low substrate concentrations.
  • Only mono(ADP-ribosyl)ated products (3'-dAMP) were observed, not polymers.
  • ADP-ribosylation occurred on up to four residues within a 22 kDa automodification domain.

Conclusions:

  • PARP initiates ADP-ribosylation by adding single 3'-dADP-ribose units.
  • The automodification domain is the primary site for PARP mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation.
  • The initiation of ADP-ribosylation by PARP is significantly slower than polymerization.

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