Amino acid-specific ADP-ribosylation. Evidence for two distinct NAD:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferases in turkey erythrocytes.

An NAD:arginine mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase has been purified 270,000-fold from turkey erythrocytes through a five-step chromatographic procedure to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity. Molecular weight determinations of the enzyme by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, Ultrogel AcA 54, and TSK 3000 SW gel filtration were consistent with Mr = 32,000. The purified enzyme utilized arginine, other low molecular weight guanidino compounds, and various proteins as ADP-ribose acceptors. The Km values for NAD and arginine methyl ester were 36 and 3,000 microM, respectively. Unlike another transferase purified from turkey erythrocytes (Moss, J., and Stanley, S.J. (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 4809-4812), this enzyme was not activated by chaotropic salts or micromolar concentrations of histone. Thus, two distinct soluble ADP-ribosyltransferases may be present in turkey erythrocytes.