Volume 6(4): 223-227 (2014) - 223 J Microb Biochem Technol ISSN: 1948-5948 JMBT, an open access journal Research Article Open Access Bianchi et al., J Microb Biochem Technol 2014, 6:4 DOI: 10.4172/1948-5948.1000148 Research Article Open Access *Corresponding author: Maria Rosaria Faraone Mennella, Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Monte S. Angelo Campus, Building 7-Room 1F-35, Via Cintia – 80126 Naples, Italy, Tel: +39081679 ext. 136/135; E-mail: faraone@unina.it Received March 04, 2014; Accepted May 05, 2014; Published May 09, 2014 Citation: Bianchi AR, Ruggiero S, Formisano C, Galloro G, De Maio A, et al. (2014) Auto-Modifcation of Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase and Membrane Lipid Composition as Diagnostic Tools to Measure the Physio-Pathological State of the Cell. J Microb Biochem Technol 6: 223-227. doi:10.4172/1948-5948.1000148 Copyright: © 2014 Bianchi AR, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited Abstract Poly(ADPribosyl)ation, catalysed by poly(ADP-ribose)polymerases, affects many cellular events and has a recognized epigenetic role. Nuclear poly(ADP-ribose)polymerases 1 and 2 are hyper activated by DNA strand- breaks. They auto-modify with large polymers of ADP-ribose and recruit DNA repair proteins. The more the DNA strand-breaks, the more poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase modifes itself. On the other hand, dietary lipids can be signaling molecules, lead to pro-(ω6)/ anti-(ω3) infammatory compounds, and be included in biomembranes, good biomarkers of their unbalance. Here, we report the results obtained from an epidemiological study to establish whether the combination of two different analyses, i.e. detecting auto-modifed poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase levels and analyzing erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition, might help to monitor the physio-pathological state of the cell, and to correlate with lifestyle, diet or diseases. The two analyses were carried blindly on 70 subjects undergoing endoscopy. They were frst interviewed, to collect anamnesis and clinical data, if present. Lymphocytes and erythrocytes were prepared from venous blood to assay poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase auto modifcation and membrane fatty acid content, respectively. The results were statistically evaluated. The measure of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase automodifcation confrmed that its levels correlate with DNA damage extent, within the same pathology, and allowed to monitor the clinical activity of the disease, depending on ongoing therapeutic/surgical treatment. Membrane fat profle was able to evidence unbalance of lipids linked to both diet/lifestyle and infammatory states leading to diseases. Both analyses provide possible biomarkers for sensible, non-invasive and routine monitoring. Auto-Modification of Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase and Membrane Lipid Composition as Diagnostic Tools to Measure the Physio-Pathological State of the Cell Anna Rita Bianchi 1 , Simona Ruggiero 2 , Cesare Formisano 2 , Giuseppe Galloro 2 , Anna De Maio 1 , Carla Ferreri 3 and Maria Rosaria Faraone Mennella 1 * 1 Departments of Biology, The University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy 2 Departments of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, The University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy 3 Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-ISOF, Bologna, Italy Keywords: Diet; Epigenomic; Niacin; Poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerases; Lipidomic Introduction Remodeling of chromatin is among epigenetic factors regulating gene expression [1]. Epigenetic changes have also been observed to occur in response to environmental exposure [2]. Unlike behavior or stress, diet is one of the better understood, environmental factors in epigenetic change [3]. Tere are increasing evidence that deleterious processes as membrane lipid peroxidation and DNA damage might be modulated by a correct quality of food intake and by post-translational modifcation reactions (namely NAD-dependent poly(ADP-ribosyl) ation), respectively. Te pyridine nucleotide Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD + ) mediates electron transfer in many catabolic processes [4- 7], leading to ATP production. Tus, in addition to ATP, NADH is a potential high-energy carrier. Tere are a number of enzymes using NAD + as substrate and synthesizing ADP-ribose (ADPR) and derivatives by cleavage of the bond between ADPR and nicotinamide. Tere are enzymes such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) that consume NAD + [8- 10]. Among PARP family proteins, PARP-1 leads to depletion of NAD + pools in cells upon hyperactivation, and attenuates NAD + dependent ATP production, resulting in cell death. PARP-1 is mainly involved in repairing damaged DNA, a NAD + -consuming process as a consequence of PARP1 hyperactivation that takes place in both physiological and pathological conditions [11]. Activated and DNA bound PARP-1 synthesizes long and branched polymers of ADP- ribose (PAR) and concentrates up to 90% of cellular PAR on its auto- modifcation domain. DNA bound PARylated PARP-1 (PAR-PARP) promotes destabilization of DNA-histone interactions to allow DNA repair machinery to access to the damaged site [12]. Strong evidence has been provided for a specifc relationship between DNA damage and acute depression of cellular NAD+ levels. Also, PARP-1 has been shown to afect metabolic homeostasis. Given the role of PARP as biomarker of DNA damage, and its recognized importance as a signal of oxidative stress [10-12], it is conceivable that its activity levels/expression in the cell nucleus can help to defne the physio-pathological state of the cell. Lipids and phospholipids are very sensitive to stress conditions such as the reactive oxygen species (ROS) attack. Te latter leads to change Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology J o u r n a l o f M i c r o b i a l & B i o c h e m i c a l T e c h n o l o g y ISSN: 1948-5948