A Fast Signal–Induced Activation of Poly(Adp-Ribose) Polymerase: A Novel Downstream Target of Phospholipase C

We present the first evidence for a fast activation of the nuclear protein poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) by signals evoked in the cell membrane, constituting a novel mode of signaling to the cell nucleus. PARP, an abundant, highly conserved, chromatin-bound protein found only in eukaryotes, exclusively catalyzes polyADP-ribosylation of DNA-binding proteins, thereby modulating their activity. Activation of PARP, reportedly induced by formation of DNA breaks, is involved in DNA transcription, replication, and repair. Our findings demonstrate an alternative mechanism: a fast activation of PARP, evoked by inositol 1,4,5,-trisphosphate–Ca(2+) mobilization, that does not involve DNA breaks. These findings identify PARP as a novel downstream target of phospholipase C, and unveil a novel fast signal–induced modification of DNA-binding proteins by polyADP-ribosylation.