ADP-ribosylation regulates the phosphorylation of histones by the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Phosphorylation of whole histones from calf thymus by the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was markedly reduced when the histones were ADP-ribosylated. NAD, nicotinamide or free ADP-ribose molecule did not suppress the phosphorylation. Urea gel electrophoretic analyses of the phosphorylated histones which had already been ADP-ribosylated revealed that the suppression of phosphorylation occurred in both H1 and core histones. Therefore, the possibility that ADP-ribosylation may regulate the phosphorylation of histones phosphorylation in nuclei warrants further investigation.