Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) (EC 2.4.2.30), the only enzyme known to synthesize ADP-ribose polymers from NAD؉ , is activated in response to DNA strand breaks and functions in the maintenance of genomic integrity. Mice homozygous for a disrupted gene encoding PARP are viable but have severe sensitivity to ␥-radiation and alkylating agents. We demonstrate here that both 3T3 and primary embryo cells derived from PARP ؊/؊ mice synthesized ADP-ribose polymers following treatment with the DNA-damaging agent, N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, despite the fact that no PARP protein was detected in these cells. ADP-ribose polymers isolated from PARP ؊/؊ cells were indistinguishable from that of PARP ؉/؉ cells by several criteria. First, they bound to a boronate resin selective for ADPribose polymers. Second, treatment of polymers with snake venom phosphodiesterase and alkaline phosphatase yielded ribosyladenosine, a nucleoside diagnostic for the unique ribosyl-ribosyl linkages of ADP-ribose polymers. Third, they were digested by treatment with recombinant poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase, an enzyme highly specific for ADP-ribose polymers. Collectively, these data demonstrate that ADP-ribose polymers are formed in PARP ؊/؊ cells in a DNA damagedependent manner. Because the PARP gene has been disrupted, these results suggest the presence of a previously unreported activity capable of synthesizing ADPribose polymers in PARP ؊/؊ cells.Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) 1 (EC 2.4.2.30) is a nuclear enzyme that catalyzes the formation of complex homopolymers of ADP-ribose from NAD ϩ on nuclear proteins in response to DNA damage. Recently, mice homozygous for a disrupted PARP gene (PARP Ϫ/Ϫ ) have been generated (1-3). These animals and cells derived from them are being widely studied to better understand the potential roles of ADP-ribose polymer metabolism in cellular functions including DNA repair (4) and apoptosis (5, 6). The PARP Ϫ/Ϫ mice show normal fetal and postnatal development (1, 2) but have inherent genomic instability and are highly sensitive to DNA damage induced by ␥-radiation and alkylating agents (2, 4, 5). These results indicate that PARP is involved in maintaining genomic integrity and cell survival, especially following genotoxic insults. However, viability of the null genotype mice suggests that PARP is not essential for growth, development, or differentiation. Because there has been only a single gene product reported with PARP activity, we have used the PARP null genotype to address whether any other activities might be present that are capable of generating ADP-ribose polymers. Here, we show that cells derived from PARP Ϫ/Ϫ animals form ADP-ribose polymers, indicating the presence of enzymatic activity capable of catalyzing ADP-ribose polymer synthesis, which may represent heretofore unreported family member(s) of PARP.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURESCell Culture-PARP ϩ/ϩ and PARP Ϫ/Ϫ mice (strain C57BL/6) developed by Wang et al. (1) were used for the studies described here. Primary mouse embryo or immort...