Identifying Poly(ADP-ribose)-Binding Proteins with Photoaffinity-Based Proteomics

J Am Chem Soc. 2021 Mar 3;143(8):3037-3042. doi: 10.1021/jacs.0c12246. Epub 2021 Feb 17.

Abstract

Post-translational modification of proteins with poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) is an important component of the DNA damage response. Four PAR synthesis inhibitors have recently been approved for the treatment of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers. Despite the clinical significance of PAR, a molecular understanding of its function, including its binding partners, remains incomplete. In this work, we synthesized a PAR photoaffinity probe that captures and isolates endogenous PAR binders. Our method identified dozens of known PAR-binding proteins and hundreds of novel candidates involved in DNA repair, RNA processing, and metabolism. PAR binding by eight candidates was confirmed using pull-down and/or electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Using PAR probes of defined lengths, we detected proteins that preferentially bind to 40-mer versus 8-mer PAR, indicating that polymer length may regulate the outcome and timing of PAR signaling pathways. This investigation produces the first census of PAR-binding proteins, provides a proteomics analysis of length-selective PAR binding, and associates PAR binding with RNA metabolism and the formation of biomolecular condensates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Light*
  • Molecular Probes / chemical synthesis
  • Molecular Probes / chemistry
  • Molecular Probes / metabolism*
  • Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Molecular Probes
  • Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins