title: Role of poly(ADP-ribose) formation in DNA repair.
abstract: The abundant nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase catalyses the synthesis of poly(ADP-ribose) from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). This protein has an N-terminal DNA-binding domain containing two zinc-fingers, which is linked to the C-terminal NAD(+)-binding domain by a short region containing several glutamic acid residues that are sites of auto-poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation. The intracellular production of poly(ADP-ribose) is induced by agents that generate strand interruptions in DNA. The branched homopolymer chains may attain a size of 200-300 residues but are rapidly degraded after synthesis. The function of poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis is not clear, although it seems to be required for DNA repair. Here we describe a human cell-free system that enables the role of poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis in DNA repair to be characterized. The results indicate that unmodified polymerase molecules bind tightly to DNA strand breaks; auto-poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of the protein then effects its release and allows access to lesions for DNA repair enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Clare Hall Laboratories, South Mimms, Herts, UK.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindahl
mesh_terms: D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D002474:Cell-Free System; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism; D011064:Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose / Q000502:physiology*; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D006657:Histones; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; D009243:NAD; D011064:Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose; C025160:3-aminobenzamide; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases