Molecular and biochemical features of poly (ADP-ribose) metabolism

In the past five years, poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation has developed greatly with the help of molecular biology and the improvement of biochemical techniques. In this article, we describe the physico-chemical properties of the enzymes responsible for the synthesis and degradation of poly(ADP-ribose), respectively poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase. We then discuss the possible roles of this polymer in DNA repair and replication as well as in cellular differentiation and transformation. Finally, we put forward various hypotheses in order to better define the function of this polymer found only in eucaryotes.