title: Pierisins and CARP-1: ADP-ribosylation of DNA by ARTCs in butterflies and shellfish.
abstract: The cabbage butterfly, Pieris rapae, and related species possess a previously unknown ADP-ribosylating toxin, guanine specific ADP-ribosyltransferase. This enzyme toxin, known as pierisin, consists of enzymatic N-terminal domain and receptor-binding C-terminal domain, or typical AB-toxin structure. Pierisin efficiently transfers an ADP-ribosyl moiety to the N(2) position of the guanine base of dsDNA. Receptors for pierisin are suggested to be the neutral glycosphingolipids, globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), and globotetraosylceramide (Gb4). This DNA-modifying toxin exhibits strong cytotoxicity and induces apoptosis in various human cell lines, which can be blocked by Bcl-2. Pierisin also produces detrimental effects on the eggs and larvae of the non-habitual parasitoids. In contrast, a natural parasitoid of the cabbage butterfly, Cotesia glomerata, was resistant to this toxin. The physiological role of pierisin in the butterfly is suggested to be a defense factor against parasitization by wasps. Other type of DNA ADP-ribosyltransferase is present in certain kinds of edible clams. For example, the CARP-1 protein found in Meretrix lamarckii consists of an enzymatic domain without a possible receptor-binding domain. Pierisin and CARP-1 are almost fully non-homologous at the amino acid sequence level, but other ADP-ribosyltransferases homologous to pierisin are present in different biological species such as eubacterium Streptomyces. Possible diverse physiological roles of the DNA ADP-ribosyltransferases are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Development System, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan, Nakano.Tsuyoshi@sysmex.co.jp.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Azusa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takahashi-Nakaguchi
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000246:Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D002080:Butterflies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012758:Shellfish / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; C113557:pierisin protein, insect; D000246:Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose; D004247:DNA; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases