Abstract:
DNA-dependent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) PARP1, PARP2 and PARP3 act as DNA
break sensors signalling DNA damage. Upon detecting DNA damage, these PARPs use nicotine
adenine dinucleotide as a substrate to synthesise a monomer or polymer of ADP-ribose (MAR or
PAR, respectively) covalently attached to the acceptor residue of target proteins. Recently, it was
demonstrated that PARP1–3 proteins can directly ADP-ribosylate DNA breaks by attaching MAR
and PAR moieties to terminal phosphates. Nevertheless, little is still known about the mechanisms
governing substrate recognition and specifcity of PARP1, which accounts for most of cellular
PARylation activity. Here, we characterised PARP1-mediated DNA PARylation of DNA duplexes
containing various types of breaks at diferent positions. The 3′-terminal phosphate residue at doublestrand DNA break ends served as a major acceptor site for PARP1-catalysed PARylation depending
on the orientation and distance between DNA strand breaks in a single DNA molecule. A preference
for ADP-ribosylation of DNA molecules containing 3′-terminal phosphate over PARP1 auto-ADPribosylation was observed, and a model of DNA modifcation by PARP1 was proposed. Similar results
were obtained with purifed recombinant PARP1 and HeLa cell-free extracts. Thus, the biological efects
of PARP-mediated ADP-ribosylation may strongly depend on the confguration of complex DNA strand
breaks.
