Auto-ADP-ribosylation of NAD glycohydrolase from Neurospora crassa

NAD glycohydrolase (NADase; EC 3.2.2.5) is an enzyme that catalyzes hydrolysis of NAD to produce ADP-ribose and nicotinamide. We recently demonstrated that self-inactivation of NADase from rabbit erythrocytes was due to an auto-ADP-ribosylation. In the present study, a mechanism of self-inactivation of NADase from Neurospora crassa by its substrate was investigated by using intact mycelia of N. crassa and purified NADase, which had molecular characteristics different from mammalian NADases. The results suggested that inactivation of NADase from N. crassa was also due to an auto-ADP-ribosylation. These findings indicate that the auto-modification of NADase is one of the universal phenomena to regulate enzyme functions.