Visualization of poly(ADP-ribose) bound to PARG reveals inherent balance between exo- and endo-glycohydrolase activities.
Barkauskaite, E., Brassington, A., Tan, E.S., Warwicker, J., Dunstan, M.S., Banos, B., Lafite, P., Ahel, M., Mitchison, T.J., Ahel, I., Leys, D.(2013) Nat Commun 4: 2164-2164
- PubMed: 23917065 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms3164
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
4L2H - PubMed Abstract: 
Poly-ADP-ribosylation is a post-translational modification that regulates processes involved in genome stability. Breakdown of the poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymer is catalysed by poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG), whose endo-glycohydrolase activity generates PAR fragments. Here we present the crystal structure of PARG incorporating the PAR substrate. The two terminal ADP-ribose units of the polymeric substrate are bound in exo-mode. Biochemical and modelling studies reveal that PARG acts predominantly as an exo-glycohydrolase. This preference is linked to Phe902 (human numbering), which is responsible for low-affinity binding of the substrate in endo-mode. Our data reveal the mechanism of poly-ADP-ribosylation reversal, with ADP-ribose as the dominant product, and suggest that the release of apoptotic PAR fragments occurs at unusual PAR/PARG ratios.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Cancer Research UK, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, University of Manchester, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4BX, UK.