ADP-ribosylation of the 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein during nutritional stress.

Starvation of a mouse hepatoma cell line, Hepa, for any essential amino acid results in the mono-ADP-ribosylation of an 80-kDa protein, P80. The ADP-ribose acceptor and its putative precursor were identified in two-dimensional gel patterns and isolated by electroelution. Amino-terminal sequence analysis showed they were the 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein, GRP78. Starvation of Hepa cells for tryptophan or glucose stimulated the relative rate of synthesis, and the ADP-ribosylation of GRP78. Inhibition of N-linked glycosylation by treatment with tunicamycin, 2-deoxy-D-glucose or glucosamine stimulated the synthesis of non-ADP-ribosylated GRP78 up to sixfold with relatively little effect on its ADP-ribosylation. Both forms were identified in mouse liver, lung, heart, kidney, spleen and brain.