Apparent role of adenosine diphosphoribosyl transferase in the development of Mytilus edulis and the inhibition of differentiation by ligands of the enzyme protein.

The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase or transferase (ADPRT) activity of developing embryos of Mytilus edulis increases with the progression of larval growth. ADPRT protein was partially purified from 2-hr-old embryos and identified by gel electrophoresis and immunotransblot, demonstrating cross-reactivity with anti-ADPRT IgG produced against the calf thymus enzyme. Two inhibitors of ADPRT, benzamide, competing with NAD at the nicotinamide binding site, and 6-amino-1,2-benzopyrone, which competes with DNA at the DNA binding site(s), both selectively arrest differentiation at the prodissoconch stage. The DNA site-oriented inhibitor, 6-amino-1,2-benzopyrone, has a much larger differentiation arresting effect than benzamide. The arrest of differentiation by 6-amino-1,2-benzopyrone is reversible. A probable ecotoxicity of ADPRT ligands on mussel differentiation is proposed.