Effect of simulated microgravity conditions on poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes.

The possible involvement of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase [PARP; E.C. 2.4.2.30] in the adaptive response to low-g conditions was studied in cultured adult rat hepatocytes exposed to simulated microgravity produced by the random positioning machine (RPM-3D-clinostat). Four different poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) have been identified recently. The best-studied member of this family is PARP-1, a highly conserved, multimodular 113 kDa protein. In multicellular organisms PARPs catalyze poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis from NAD+ to a number of structural and catalytic proteins. Moreover, PARP-1 can control its protein and DNA interactions by catalyzing its automodification with poly(ADP-ribose) molecules that can include up to 200 ADP-ribose residues and several branching points; by these polymers, PARP-1 may nocovalently interact with other proteins and alter their functions. PARP-1 binds to DNA and is activated by free ends interacting with several other DNA damage checkpoint proteins. Thus, PARPs may target specific signal network proteins via poly(ADP-ribose) and regulate their domain functions. Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation plays a central role in genome stability and is involved in DNA replication and repair, gene expression, cell differentiation and transformation. We have shown that a loss of PARP-1 activity is a critical event in the early molecular steps of the hepatocarcinogenesis process. Moreover, a prompt increase in this enzymatic activity is linked not only to the presence of DNA free ends but is linked also to the start of DNA synthesis. More recently, we have reported that PARP-1 is involved in hormone-mediated gene expression in vitro and in vivo during rat liver regeneration.