PARP-1 activation in the ERK signaling pathway.

PARP-1 is a highly conserved DNA-binding protein, the most abundant member of the polyADP-ribose polymerases (PARP) family, which catalyzes post-translational modification of proteins by polyADP-ribosylation. This modification affects protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. Binding of PARP-1 to breakages in damaged DNA causes its activation and auto-polyADP-ribosylation in a process that is pivotal for DNA repair. Our recent findings outlined an alternative mechanism of PARP-1 activation via a direct interaction with phosphorylated ERK2 (externally regulated kinase), which is unrelated to DNA damage and does not involve PARP-1 binding to DNA. Furthermore, ERK2-induced PARP-1 activation dramatically amplifies ERK-signals, enhancing ERK-induced phosphorylation of the transcription factor Elk1 and enhancing core histone acetylation and expression of the Elk1 target gene, c-fos. Thus, PARP-1 activation in the ERK signaling pathway mediates epigenetic mechanisms promoting growth, proliferation and differentiation regulated by the Raf-MEK-ERK phosphorylation cascade.