“Nuclear ATP synthesis derived from ADP- ribose is essential for chromatin remodeling and hormonal gene regulation in breast cancer cells”. Roni H.G. Wright
In order to replicate DNA or to regulate gene expression, cells need a lot of energy, but how it is produced so fast in response to specific stimuli it is still unknown. The rapid gene expression modification and chromatin remodeling during an hormone response process represents a useful model in vitro to study fast production of energy within the cells. In breast cancer cells stimulated with progesterone, it is shown a rapid and transient accumulation of ATP in the nucleus in response to hormone due to the hydrolysis of poly-ADP-ribose to ADP-ribose. The inhibition of key enzymes that mediate the process results in chromatin remodeling underlying the important role of this enzymatic reaction in the gene regulation.