Metabolism of cyclic ADP-ribose: a new role for NAD+ glycohydrolases

Snake venom NAD glycohydrolases: primary structures, genomic location, and gene structure

NAD glycohydrolase (EC 3.2.2.5) (NADase) sequences have been identified in 10 elapid and crotalid venom gland transcriptomes, eight of which are complete. These sequences show very high homology, but elapid and crotalid sequences also display consistent differences. As in Aplysia kurodai ADP-ribosyl cyclase and vertebrate CD38 genes, snake venom NADase genes comprise eight exons; however, in the Protobothrops mucrosquamatus genome, the sixth exon is sometimes not transcribed, yielding a shortened NADase mRNA that encodes all six disulfide bonds, but an active site that lacks the catalytic glutamate residue. The function of this shortened protein, if expressed, is unknown. While many vertebrate CD38s are multifunctional, liberating both ADP-ribose and small quantities of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), snake venom CD38 homologs are dedicated NADases. They possess the invariant TLEDTL sequence (residues 144–149) that bounds the active site and the catalytic residue, Glu228. In addition, they possess a disulfide bond (Cys121–Cys202) that specifically prevents ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity in combination with Ile224, in lieu of phenylalanine, which is requisite for ADPR cyclases. In concert with venom phosphodiesterase and 5′-nucleotidase and their ecto-enzyme homologs in prey tissues, snake venom NADases comprise part of an envenomation strategy to liberate purine nucleosides, and particularly adenosine, in the prey, promoting prey immobilization via hypotension and paralysis.

Regulation of glutamate dehydrogenase by reversible ADP-ribosylation in mitochondria

Mitochondrial ADP-ribosylation leads to modification of two proteins of approximately 26 and 53 kDA: The nature of these proteins and, hence, the physiological consequences of their modification have remained unknown. Here, a 55 kDa protein, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), was established as a specific acceptor for enzymatic, cysteine-specific ADP-ribosylation in mitochondria. The modified protein was isolated from the mitochondrial preparation and identified as GDH by N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometric analyses of tryptic digests. Incubation of human hepatoma cells with [14C]adenine demonstrated the occurrence of the modification in vivo. Purified GDH was ADP-ribosylated in a cysteine residue in the presence of the mitochondrial activity that transferred the ADP-ribose from NAD+ onto the acceptor site. ADP- ribosylation of GDH led to substantial inhibition of its catalytic activity. The stoichiometry between incorporated ADP-ribose and GDH subunits suggests that modification of one subunit per catalytically active homohexamer causes the inactivation of the enzyme. Isolated, ADP-ribosylated GDH was reactivated by an Mg2+-dependent mitochondrial ADP-ribosylcysteine hydrolase. GDH, a highly regulated enzyme, is the first mitochondrial protein identified whose activity may be modulated by ADP-ribosylation.

Enzymic, cysteine-specific ADP-ribosylation in bovine liver mitochondria

NAD+ glycohydrolase (NADase) and non-enzymic ADP-ribosylation have been thought to be involved in the regulation of mitochondrial Ca2+ fluxes. In this study it was found that several conditions (5 mM nicotinamide, 5 mM 3-aminobenzamide, 2 mM EDTA, 1 mM ATP, 10 mM dithiothreitol) known to strongly inhibit the NADase decreased ADP-ribosylation in bovine liver mitochondrial membranes with [32P]NAD+ as substrate to only a limited extent, if at all. The reaction led to the specific modification of two proteins with apparent molecular masses of approx. 26 and 53 kDa. An excess of added free ADP-ribose diminished the incorporation of label from [32P]NAD+ only slightly. Dithiothreitol inactivated the NADase, whereas ADP-ribosylation was unaffected. At low concentrations (25 microM) ADP-ribosylation was efficient with NAD+, but not ADP-ribose, as substrate. Under these conditions mitochondrial ADP-ribosylation seems to occur as an enzymic reaction rather than a non-enzymic transfer of ADP-ribose previously liberated from NAD+ by NAD+ glycohydrolase. The chemical stability of the protein-ADP-ribose bonds in the mitochondrial membranes indicated that cysteine residues are the predominant acceptors. Moreover, yeast aldehyde dehydrogenase, known to be a substrate for thiol-associated ADP-ribosylation, was efficiently ADP-ribosylated by using the mitochondrial activity and NAD+ as substrate. The modification of a cysteine residue in the aldehyde dehydrogenase was verified by the observation that pretreatment of this acceptor protein with N-ethylmaleimide substantially decreased its modification. It is therefore concluded that bovine liver mitochondria contain a cysteine-specific ADP-ribosyltransferase.