Poly(ADP-ribose) has a branched structure in vivo.

We have searched for the presence of branching in the chromosomal polymer poly(ADP-ribose) as it occurs in vivo. Treatment of the polymer with phosphodiesterase asnd phosphomonoesterase results in the conversion of internal residues to the nucleoside ribosyladenosine and the conversion of points of branching to diribosyladenosine. We have detected diribosyladenosine in digests of the polymer derived from carcinogen-treated SV40 virus-formed 3T3 cells and in normal rat liver, kidney, and spleen. The frequency of residues involved in branching varied from 0.8 to 1.6 mole % over a 50-fold range of total levels of poly(ADP-ribose). Thus, branching seems to be a general feature of poly(ADP-ribose) as it occurs in vivo.