THU547 Role Of NAD(+) Synthesis Pathway In PARP Inhibitor Resistance

Disclosure: S. Challa: None. ADP-ribosylation is catalyzed by the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family of enzymes consisting of 17 members that have distinct structural domains, activities, subcellular localizations, and functions. The catalytic activities of PARP enzymes are intimately tied to the synthesis of NAD(+), which is consumed during ADPRylation reactions and, thus, must be regenerated. The intracellular salvage pathway utilizing nicotinamide (NAM) is the primary source of NAD(+) in the cell. NAM is converted to nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) by NAMPT. Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyl transferases (NMNATs) catalyze the final step in the NAD(+) salvage pathway, combining NMN and ATP to make NAD(+). Three different NMNATs, each with a distinct subcellular localization, control the subcellular levels of NAD(+) in each compartment: NMNAT-1 in the nucleus, NMNAT-2 is in the outer membrane of golgi, and NMNAT-3 in the mitochondria. We recently demonstrated that such compartment-specific NAD(+) synthesis regulates the levels of ADP-ribosylation. Elevated levels of NMNAT-2, the cytosolic NAD(+) synthase, reduces nuclear NAD(+) levels and PARP1 activity in adipocytes and ovarian cancer cells. In the current study, we aim to delineate the role of compartmentalized synthesis of NAD(+) in PARP inhibitor resistance in ovarian cancers. To identify these mechanisms, we generated ovarian cancer cells with acquired resistance to Niraparib, an FDA approved PARP inhibitor (Nir(R)). We found that Nir(R) cells have elevated levels of NAD(+) biosynthesis. Moreover, treatment of parental cells with NAD(+) precursors reduced the sensitivity to Niraparib while inhibition of NAD(+) metabolism in Nir(R) cells increased the sensitivity to Niraparib. Interestingly, the resistant cells have comparable levels of PARP1 activation to the parental cells. These data collectively suggests that NAD(+) metabolism confers resistance to Niraparib without altering PARP1 activity. In line with this, Nir(R) cells are sensitive to the effects of depletion of the cytosolic NAD(+) biosynthesis, suggesting high NAD(+) biosynthesis in Nir(R) cells supports processes regulated by the cytosolic NAD(+) which may drive the resistance phenotype. There is an urgent need to identify the mechanisms of resistance to PARP inhibitors to increase their clinical efficacy. This study identifies the NAD(+) biosynthesis pathway as a key mechanism of PARP inhibitor resistance. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023