Modulation of chromatin superstructure induced by poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis and degradation

It has been demonstrated recently by Poirier et al. (Poirier, G. G., de Murcia, G., Jongstra-Bilen, J., Niedergang, C., and Mandel, P. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 3423-3427) that poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of pancreatic nucleosomes causes relaxation of the chromatin superstructure through H1 modification. The in vitro effect of poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis and degradation on calf thymus chromatin was investigated by the time course incorporation of ADP-ribose, electron microscopy, analytical ultracentrifugation, and autoradiography of the protein acceptors. Purified calf thymus poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and partially purified bull testis poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase were used. Degradation of ADP-ribose units on hyper(ADP-ribosyl)ated H1 by poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase restores the native condensed chromatin superstructure. This reversible conformational change induced by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation on nucleosomal arrangement could be one of the mechanisms by which the accessibility of DNA polymerases and/or excision-repair enzymes is favored, the native structure being fully restorable.     

A shuttle mechanism for DNA-protein interactions. The regulation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase

Previously it had been shown that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase requires DNA for its activity and that this enzyme is auto-poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated. The studies reported here indicate that this self-modification inhibits the enzyme and decreases its affinity for DNA, as shown by sucrose gradient density centrifugation. The coupling of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase with poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase reactivates the polymerase by degrading poly(ADP-ribose) and restoring the polymerase-DNA complex. The assay of polymerase in the presence of glyco-hydrolase was made possible by use of a double-label assay involving release of 14C-labelled nicotinamide and the incorporation of 3H-labelled ADP-ribose from NAD+. These results provide the basis for a shuttle mechanism in which the polymerase can be moved on and off DNA by the action of these two enzymes. Mg2+ and histone H1 appear to activate the polymerase by increasing the affinity of the polymerase for DNA.     

The effect of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation on native and H1-depleted chromatin. A role of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation on core nucleosome structure

The effect of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation on native and H1-depleted chromatin was analyzed by gel electrophoresis, electron microscopy, and velocity sedimentation. In parallel, the interaction of automodified poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase with native and H1-depleted chromatin was analyzed. In H1-depleted chromatin histone H2B becomes the major poly(ADP-ribose) histone acceptor protein, whereas in native chromatin histone H1 was the major histone acceptor. Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of H1-depleted chromatin prevented the recondensation of polynucleosomes reconstituted with exogenous histone H1. This is probably due to the presence of modified poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and hyper(ADP-ribosyl)ated histone H2B. Indeed, about 40% of the modified enzyme remained associated with H1-depleted chromatin, while less than 1% of the modified enzyme was bound to native chromatin. The influence of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation on the chromatin conformation was also studied at the level of nucleosome in using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specific for individual histones and synthetic peptides of histones. In native chromatin incubated in the presence of Mg2+ there was a drop in the accessibility of histone epitopes to monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies whereas upon poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation their accessibility was found to remain even in the presence of Mg2+. In poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated H1-depleted chromatin an increased accessibility of some histone tails to antibodies was observed.     

Reconstitution of an in vitro poly(ADP-ribose) turnover system

Poly(ADP-ribose) is synthesized and degraded by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and glycohydrolase, respectively. We have reconstituted in vitro two turnover systems containing these two enzymes. We have measured the kinetics of NAD consumption and polymer accumulation during turnover. The combined action of the two enzymes (i.e., turnover) generates a steady state of polymer quantity. The glycohydrolase determines the time and the level at which this steady state of total polymer is reached. A major observation is that the size and calculated density of polymer bound to the total polymerase molecules is tightly regulated by the rate of polymer turnover. On the polymerase, an increase in the rate of polymer turnover does not affect the mean polymer size, but reduces the polymer density on the enzyme (i.e., the number of polymer chains per polymerase molecule). In the absence of glycohydrolase and at low histone H1 concentration (less than 1.5 micrograms/ml), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase preferentially automodifies itself instead of modifying histone H1. In contrast, under turnover conditions, oligomer accumulation on histone H1 was greatly increased, with almost 40% of all the polymer present on H1 after 5 min of turnover. Although turnover conditions were necessary for histone H1 labelling, there was no difference between the fast and the slow turnover systems as concerns the proportion of histone H1 labelling, although the mean polymer size on histone H1 was decreased with increasing turnover rate. Due to its small size, polymer is not degraded by the glycohydrolase and accumulates on histone H1 during turnover. These data suggest that the glycohydrolase modulates the level of poly(ADP-ribosyl)action of different proteins in two ways; by degrading shorter polymers at a slower rate and probably by competing with the polymerase for polymer.     

Modulation of chromatin structure by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase is a nuclear enzyme that is highly conserved in eucaryotes. Its activity is totally dependent on the presence of DNA containing single or double stranded breaks. We have shown that this activation results in a decondensation of chromatin superstructure in vitro, which is caused mainly by hyper(ADP-ribosy)ation of histone H1. In core particles, the modification of histone H2B leads to a partial dissociation of DNA from core histones. The conformational change of native chromatin by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is reversible upon degradation of the histone H1-bound poly(ADP-ribose) by poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase. We propose that cuts produced in vivo on DNA during DNA repair activate poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, which then synthesizes poly(ADP-ribose) on histone H1, in particular, and contributes to the opening of the 25-nm chromatin fiber, resulting in the increased accessibility of DNA to excision repair enzymes. This mechanism is fast and reversible.     

Effect of DNA on poly (ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase and the degradation of histone H1-poly (ADP-ribose) complex from HeLa cell nuclei.

A poly(ADP-ribose)-H1 histone complex has been isolated from HeLa cell nuclei incubated with NAD. The rate of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase catalyzed hydrolysis of the polymer in the complex is only 1/9 that of free poly(ADP-ribose), indicating that the polymer is in a protected environment within the complex. Comparison of the rate of hydrolysis of free poly(ADP-ribose) in the presence or absence of H1 to that in the complex synthesized de novo indicates a specific mode of packaging of the complex. This is further indicated by the fact that alkaline dissociation of the complex followed by neutralization markedly exposes the associated poly(ADP-ribose) to the glycohydrolase. The complex also partially unfolds when it binds to DNA as evidenced by a 2-fold increase in the rate of glycolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose). This effect of DNA is not due to a stimulation of the glycohydrolase per se since hydrolysis of free polymer by the enzyme is strongly inhibited by DNA, especially single-stranded DNA. Inhibition of glycohydrolase by DNA results from the binding of the enzyme to DNA and conditions which decrease this binding (increased ionic strength or addition of histone H1 which competes for DNA binding) relieve the DNA inhibition.     

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of chromatin in an in-vitro poly(ADP-ribose)-turnover system.

This paper describes the effect of an in-vitro poly(ADP-ribose) turnover system on the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of chromatin. Both poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase and poly(ADP-ribose)glycohydrolase were highly purified and used in 4 different turnover systems: non-turnover, slow, medium and fast turnover. These turnover systems were designed to reflect possible turnover conditions in intact cells. The major protein acceptors for poly(ADP-ribose) are histones and the polymerase itself, a process referred to as automodification. The level of poly(ADP-ribose) modification of polymerase, histone H1 and core histones has been measured. The size of the polymer for each of the 3 groups of acceptor proteins has been determined by gel electrophoresis. After many turnover cycles at medium and fast turnover, the histones (H1 and core) become the main poly(ADP-ribose) acceptor proteins. The rate at which steady-state polymer levels are reached and the total accumulation of polymer in a given turnover system are both inversely proportional to the amount of glycohydrolase present. Furthermore, increasing amounts of glycohydrolase in the turnover systems reduces average polymer size. The polymer synthesized in the medium and fast turnover systems is degraded by glycohydrolase in a biphasic fashion and in these systems the half-life of polymer agreed with results found in intact cells. Our results show that the relative levels of polymerase and glycohydrolase activities can regulate the proportional poly(ADP-ribose) distribution on chromatin-associated acceptor proteins during steady-state turnover conditions. The patterns of modification of polymerase and histones under turnover conditions agree with in vivo observations.     

Importance of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase in the control of poly(ADP-ribose) metabolism.

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is a posttranslational modification that alters the functions of the acceptor proteins and is catalyzed by the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family of enzymes. Following DNA damage, activated poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) catalyzes the elongation and branching of poly(ADP-ribose) (pADPr) covalently attached to nuclear target proteins. Although the biological role of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation has not yet been defined, it has been implicated in many important cellular processes such as DNA repair and replication, modulation of chromatin structure, and apoptosis. The transient nature and modulation of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation depend on the activity of a unique cytoplasmic enzyme called poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase which hydrolyzes pADPr bound to acceptor proteins in free ADP-ribose residues. While the PARP homologues have been recently reviewed, there are relatively scarce data about PARG in the literature. Here we summarize the latest advances in the PARG field, addressing the question of its putative nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling that could enable the tight regulation of pADPr metabolism. This would contribute to the elucidation of the biological significance of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation.     

Correlation between endogenous nucleosomal hyper(ADP-ribosyl)ation of histone H1 and the induction of chromatin relaxation.

The effect of poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis on chromatin structure was investigated by velocity sedimentation and electron microscopy. We demonstrate that locally relaxed regions can be generated within polynucleosome chains by the activity of their intrinsic poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase. This relaxation phenomenon is also shown to be NAD dependent and to be correlated with the formation of hyper(ADP-ribosyl)ated forms of histone H1. Evidence is also presented which suggests that hyper(ADP-ribosyl)ated histone H1 is neither released from the relaxed chromatin, nor does it seem to participate in polynucleosomal aggregation.     

Purification and characterization of an (ADP-ribose)n glycohydrolase from human erythrocytes

An (ADP-ribose)n glycohydrolase from human erythrocytes was purified approximately 13,000-fold and characterized. On sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel the purified enzyme appeared homogeneous and had an estimated relative molecular mass (Mr) of 59,000. Amino acid analysis showed that the enzyme had a relatively high content of acidic amino acid residues and low content of basic amino acid residues. Isoelectrofocusing showed that the enzyme was an acidic protein with pI value of 5.9. The mode of hydrolysis of (ADP-ribose)n by this enzyme was exoglycosidic, yielding ADP-ribose as the final product. The Km value for (ADP-ribose)n (average chain length, n = 15) was 5.8 microM and the maximal velocity of its hydrolysis was 21 mumol.min-1.mg protein-1. The optimum pH for enzyme activity was 7.4 KCl was more inhibitory than NaCl. The enzyme activity was inhibited by ADP-ribose and cAMP but not the dibutyryl-derivative (Bt2-cAMP), cGMP or AMP. These physical and catalytic properties are similar to those of cytosolic (ADP-ribose)n glycohydrolase II, but not to those of nuclear (ADP-ribose)n glycohydrolase I purified from guinea pig liver [Tanuma, S., Kawashima, K. & Endo, H. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 965-969]. Thus, human erythrocytes contain (ADP-ribose)n glycohydrolase II. The kinetics of degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) bound to histone H1 by purified erythrocyte (ADP-ribose)n glycohydrolase was essentially the same as that of the corresponding free poly(ADP-ribose). In contrast, the glycohydrolase showed appreciable activity of free oligo(ADP-ribose), much less activity on the corresponding oligo(ADP-ribose) bound to histone H1. The enzyme had more activity on oligo(ADP-ribose) bound to mitochondrial and cytosolic free mRNA ribonucleoprotein particle (mRNP) proteins than on oligo(ADP-ribose) bound to histone H1. It did not degrade mono(ADP-ribosyl)-stimulatory guanine-nucleotide-binding protein (Gs) and -inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding protein (Gi) prepared with cholera and pertussis toxins, respectively. These results suggest that cytosolic (ADP-ribose)n glycohydrolase II may be involved in extranuclear de(ADP-ribosyl)n-ation, but not in membrane de-mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation.     

Cytoplasmic poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase in AEV-transformed chicken erythroblasts

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase activities were both investigated in chicken erythroblasts transformed by Avian Erythroblastosis Virus. Respectively 21% and 58% of these activities were found to be present in the post-mitochondrial supernatant (PMS). Fractionation of the PMS on sucrose gradients and poly(A⁺) mRNA detection by hybridization to [³H] poly(U) show that cytoplasmic poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase is exclusively localized in free mRNP. The glycohydrolase activity sedimented mostly in the 6 S region but 1/3 of the activity was in the free mRNP zone. Seven poly(ADP-ribose) protein acceptors were identified in the PMS in the Mr 21000–120000 range. The Mr 120000 protein corresponds to automodified poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. A Mr 21000 protein acceptor is abundant in PMS and a Mr 34000 is exclusively associated with ribosomes and ribosomal subunits. The existence of both poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and glycohydrolase activities in free mRNP argues in favour of a role of poly(ADP-ribosylation) in mRNP metabolism. A possible involvement of this post translational modification in the mechanisms of repression-derepression of mRNA is discussed.Abbreviations ADP-ribose adenosine (5) diphospho(5)--D ribose - poly(ADP-ribose) polymer of ADP-ribose - mRNP messenger ribonucleoprotein particles - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride - LDS lithium dodecyl sulfate - TCA trichloroacetic acid     

Initiation of poly(ADP-ribosyl) histone synthesis by poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase

Initiation of poly(ADP-ribosyl) histone synthesis was achieved in vitro using an apparently homogeneous preparation of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase. When poly(ADP-ribose) was synthesized in the presence of DNA and increase amounts of histone H1, increasing portions (up to about 55%) of the product were found associated with the histone, judging from solubility in 5% HClO4 and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Most of the polymers were directly attached to the histone protein and not produced by elongation from pre-existing ADP-ribose; the cohesive end of poly(ADP-ribose), isolated as ribose 5-phosphate with snake venom phosphodiesterase digestion, was labeled almost quantitatively with [ribose (NMN)-14C]NAD. The poly(ADP-ribose) . histone linkage was labile in mild alkali and neutral NH2OH, suggesting that the same bond, probably ester, was formed in this system as in crude chromatin or isolated nuclei. Elongation of a histone-bound monomer into a polymer by this enzyme was previously demonstrated (Ueda, K., Kawaichi, M., Okayama, H., and Hayaishi, O. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 679-687), but initiation of ADP-ribose chains on histone has never been shown with a purified enzyme. This appeared to be due to the low concentrations of histone so far used. These findings indicated that a single enzyme catalyzes two different types of reaction, i.e. an attachment of ADP-ribose to histone and its elongation into a polymer.     

Properties of the complex between histone H1 and poly(ADP-ribose synthesised in HeLa cell nuclei

Preparations of H1 histone from HeLa cell nuclei incubated with [3H]NAD to permit poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis were electrophoresed on polyacrylamide gels. The incorporated radioactivity migrated as a sharply defined peak in association with a protein band which moved more slowly than H1, the major protein component. The following observations indicate that this complex is composed of two molecules of H1 and a single chain of poly(ADP-ribose) with one detectable covalent linkage of polymer to protein. 1. The [14C]arginine/[3H]lysine ratio is identical in H1 histone and in the protein moiety of the complex. 2. Protein is displaced from H1 histone to the complex during poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis. At least 90% of the protein in the complex (stainable protein and labelled protein) is derived from H1. 3. Sedimentation rate studies indicate a molecular weight of the complex about twice that of H1 histone. 4. The average chain length of the polymer is 15 ADP-ribose units and there are 7--8 ADP-ribose units for each molecule of H1 histone in the 'complex'. 5. Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase, which hydrolyses the polymer exoglycosidically from the AMP terminus, degrades the complex producing ADP-ribose and mono-ADP-ribosylated H1 histone which co-electrophoreses with unmodified H1. Although only one covalent linkage between protein and polymer has been detected, the 'complex' does not dissociate when electrophoresed on dodecylsulfate gels. Nor can the noncovalently linked H1 histone of the complex readily exchange with free H1. Complex formation does not occur when purified poly(ADP-ribose) and H1 are mixed.     

p66 an in vivo target for poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation co-purifies with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase

A direct immunoassay has been applied for the quantitation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and its automodification in BALB/3T3 (A31) cells. As the cell population reached a high density, a 66 kDa protein (designated p66) which co-purified with the enzyme became highly poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated. Pulse-chase experiments as well as a Western blot analysis indicated that the p66 was not a degradation product of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase.     

Regulation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Histone-specific adaptations of reaction products

The post-translational poly ADP-ribosylation of proteins by the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (EC 2.4.2.30) involves a complex pattern of ADP-ribose polymers. We have determined how this enzyme produces the various polymer size patterns responsible for altered protein function. The results show that histone H1 and core histones are potent regulators of both the numbers and sizes of ADP-ribose polymers. Each histone induced the polymerase to synthesize a specific polymer size pattern. Various other basic and/or DNA binding proteins as well as other known stimulators of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (spermine, MgCl2, nicked DNA) were ineffective as polymer size modulators. Testing specific proteolytic fragments of histone H1, the polymer number and polymer size modulating activity could be mapped to specific polypeptide domains. The results suggest that histones specifically regulate the polymer termination reaction of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase.     

Detection of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and its reaction product poly(ADP-ribose) by immunocytochemistry

Summary Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase catalyses the formation of ADP-ribose polymers covalently attached to various nuclear proteins, using NAD⁺ as substrate. The activity of this enzyme is strongly stimulated upon binding to DNA single or double strand breaks. Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is an immediate cellular response to DNA damage and is thought to be involved in DNA repair, genetic recombination, apoptosis and other processes during which DNA strand breaks are formed. In recent years we and others have established cell culture systems with altered poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity. Here we describe immunocytochemistry protocols based on the use of antibodies against the DNA-binding domain of human poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and against its reaction product poly(ADP-ribose). These protocols allow for the convenient mass screening of cell transfectants with overexpression of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase or of a dominant-negative mutant for this enzyme, i.e. the DNA-binding domain. In addition, the immunocytochemical detection of poly(ADP-ribose) allows screening for cells with altered enzyme activity.     

Presence of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and poly (ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase in the dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium cohnii

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase have been detected in chromatin extracts from the dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium cohnii. Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase was detected by the liberation of ADP-ribose from poly(ADP-ribose). Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase was proved by (a) demonstration of phosphoribosyl-AMP in the phosphodiesterase digest of the reaction product, (b) demonstration of ADP-ribose oligomers by fractionation of the reaction product on DEAE-Sephadex. The (ADP-ribose)-protein transfer is dependent on DNA; it is inhibited by nicotinamide, thymidine, theophylline and benzamide. The protein-(ADP-ribose bond is susceptible to 0.1 M NaOH (70%) and 0.4 M NH2OH (33%). Dinoflagellates, nucleated protists, are unique in that their chromatin lacks histones and shows a conformation like bacterial chromatin [Loeblich, A. R., III (1976) J. Protozool. 23, 13--28]; poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, however, has been found only in eucaryotes. Thus our results suggest that histones were not relevant to the establishment of poly(ADP-ribose) during evolution.