Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation, a molecular switch of transcription, shows an attractive relationship with urokinase expression

Abstract

SummaryPoly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is a posttranslational modification of proteins that consists in the transfer of ADP-ribose units from NAD+ onto protein acceptors to form long and branched polymers. PARP activity is stimulated either by genotoxic stimuli or by environmental factors. The negative charged polymers alter functional activity of several proteins involved in genome stability, gene expression, cell proliferation and differentiation. Increasing evidence supports the view that PARP, for its crucial position in DNA repair and DNA transcription, influences cell survival not only during tissue injure, but also in environmental homeostasis modification. Therefore, it may be considered a molecular switch in the control of transcription, eventually leading to the choice of cell for life and death. This review summarizes the recent findings on PARP activity and special emphasis is given to its role in urokinase-type plasminogen activator upregulation.