The catalytic domain is responsible for Poly (ADP-ribose)
polymerization. This domain has a highly conserved
motif that is common to all members of the PARP family. PAR polymer can reach lengths of up to 200 nucleotides before inducing apoptotic processes. The formation of PAR polymer is similar to the formation of DNA polymer from nucleoside triphosphates. Normal DNA synthesis requires that a
pyrophosphate act as the leaving group, leaving a single phosphate group linking
deoxyribose sugars. PAR is synthesized using
nicotinamide (NAM) as the leaving group. This leaves a pyrophosphate as the linking group between ribose sugars rather than single phosphate groups. This creates some special bulk to a PAR bridge, which may have an additional role in cell signaling.
Role in repairing DNA nicks One important function of PARP is assisting in the repair of single-strand
DNA nicks. It binds sites with single-strand breaks through its N-terminal
zinc fingers and will recruit
XRCC1,
DNA ligase III,
DNA polymerase beta, and a kinase to the nick. This is called
base excision repair (BER). PARP-2 has been shown to oligomerize with PARP-1 and, therefore, is also implicated in BER. The oligomerization has also been shown to stimulate PARP catalytic activity. PARP-1 is also known for its role in transcription through remodeling of
chromatin by PARylating histones and relaxing chromatin structure, thus allowing transcription complex to access genes. PARP-1 and PARP-2 are activated by DNA single-strand breaks, and both PARP-1 and PARP-2 knockout mice have severe deficiencies in DNA repair, and increased sensitivity to alkylating agents or ionizing radiation.
PARP activity and lifespan PARP activity (which is mainly due to PARP1) measured in the permeabilized mononuclear
leukocyte blood cells of thirteen mammalian species (rat, guinea pig, rabbit, marmoset, sheep, pig, cattle, pigmy chimpanzee, horse, donkey, gorilla, elephant and man) correlates with maximum lifespan of the species. The difference in activity between the longest-lived (humans) and shortest-lived (rat) species tested was 5-fold. Although the
enzyme kinetics (unimolecular rate constant (kcat),
Km and kcat/km) of the two enzymes were not significantly different, human PARP-1 was found to have a two-fold higher specific automodification capacity than the rat enzyme, which the authors posited could account, in part, for the higher PARP activity in humans than rats.
Lymphoblastoid cell lines established from blood samples of humans who were centenarians (100 years old or older) have significantly higher PARP activity than cell lines from younger (20 to 70 years old) individuals, again indicating a linkage between longevity and repair capability. These findings suggest that PARP-mediated DNA repair capability contributes to mammalian longevity. Thus, these findings support the
DNA damage theory of aging, which assumes that un-repaired DNA damage is the underlying cause of aging, and that DNA repair capability contributes to longevity.
Role of tankyrases The
tankyrases (TNKs) are PARPs that comprise
ankyrin repeats, an oligomerization domain (SAM), and a
PARP catalytic domain (PCD). Tankyrases are also known as PARP-5a and PARP-5b. They were named for their interaction with the
telomere-associated
TERF1 proteins and ankyrin repeats. They may allow the removal of telomerase-inhibiting complexes from chromosome ends to allow for telomere maintenance. Through their SAM domain and ANKs, they can oligomerize and interact with many other proteins, such as TRF1, TAB182 (
TNKS1BP1),
GRB14, IRAP, NuMa, EBNA-1, and
Mcl-1. They have multiple roles in the cell, like vesicular trafficking through its interaction in
GLUT4 vesicles with
insulin-responsive aminopeptidase (IRAP). It also plays a role in
mitotic spindle assembly through its interaction with
nuclear mitotic apparatus protein 1 (NuMa), therefore allowing the necessary
bipolar orientation. In the absence of TNKs,
mitosis arrest is observed in pre-
anaphase through
Mad2 spindle checkpoint. TNKs can also PARsylate Mcl-1L and Mcl-1S and inhibit both their pro- and anti-apoptotic function; relevance of this is not yet known.
Role in cell death PARP can be activated in cells experiencing stress and/or DNA damage. Activated PARP can deplete the cell of ATP in an attempt to repair the damaged DNA. ATP depletion in a cell leads to lysis and cell death (necrosis). PARP also has the ability to induce programmed cell death, via the production of PAR, which stimulates mitochondria to release
AIF. This mechanism appears to be caspase-independent. Cleavage of PARP, by enzymes such as caspases or cathepsins, typically inactivates PARP. The size of the cleavage fragments can give insight into which enzyme was responsible for the cleavage and can be useful in determining which cell death pathway has been activated.
Role in epigenetic DNA modification CCCTC-binding factor (
CTCF) induces PAR accumulation. ADP-ribose polymers, either free or PARP1 bound, are able to inhibit DNA methyltransferase activity at
CpG sites. Thus, CTCF is involved in the cross-talk between poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and DNA methylation, an important epigenetic regulatory factor. Another substantial body of data relates to the role of PARP in selected non-oncologic indications. In a number of severe, acute diseases (such as stroke, neurotrauma, circulatory shock, and acute myocardial infarction), PARP inhibitors exert therapeutic benefit (e.g. reduction of infarct size or improvement of organ function). There are also observational data demonstrating PARP activation in human tissue samples. In these disease indications, PARP overactivation due to oxidative and nitrative stress drives cell necrosis and pro-inflammatory gene expression, which contributes to disease pathology. As the clinical trials with PARP inhibitors in various forms of cancer progress, it is hoped that a second line of clinical investigations, aimed at testing of PARP inhibitors for various non-oncologic indications, will be initiated, in a process called "therapeutic repurposing". ==Inactivation==