Deciphering cytokine-driven ADP-ribosylation signaling networks via Af1521-based mass spectrometry analysis of labile Glu/Asp-linkages

ABSTRACT ADP-ribosylation (ADPr) is a regulatory post-translational modification targeting nine amino acid residues. Glutamate- and aspartate-linked ADPr (Glu/Asp-ADPr) is chemically unstable during sample preparation for conventional mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics workflows, limiting its detection. Here, we systematically assessed the stability of ADPr linkages using synthetic peptides and confirmed that ester-linked Glu/Asp-ADPr is lost under alkaline conditions, elevated temperatures, or through hydrolysis by wildtype Af1521. We established an acidic enrichment workflow encompassing an Af1521 mutant, robustly preserving Glu/Asp-ADPr enabling their site-specific and systems-wide MS analysis. Applying this strategy to cytokine-stimulated A549 and HeLa cells, we identified >600 Glu/Asp-ADPr and >200 Cys-ADPr sites. Our analysis uncovered that Glu/Asp-ADPr marks distinct cytoplasmic protein networks enriched in immune functions, contrasting with Ser-ADPr typically observed on nuclear and chromatin-associated proteins. Quantitative profiling revealed reproducible ADPr patterns specific to cell type and treatment. Notably, PARP10 promoted Glu/Asp modification of ubiquitin, highlighting crosstalk between ADPr and ubiquitin signaling. Across interferon treatments, we identified a conserved network of antiviral PARPs and associated cofactors extensively modified on Glu/Asp residues, emphasizing residue-specific ADPr as a regulator of innate immune signaling. Together, our work establishes an MS-based proteomics workflow for identification of Glu/Asp-ADPr, provides a resource of site-specific modification events, and reveals residue-specific ADPr dynamics in immune signaling. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.