#AdPR
We found a new mode by which bacteria deplete NAD+ to protect from phages. And then we found how phages overcome this defense

Discovered by talented biochemist Dr Ilya Osterman, read the preprint: tinyurl.com/Narp-ap

A thread 🧵
Bacterial defense via RES-mediated NAD+ depletion is countered by phage phosphatases
Many bacterial defense systems restrict phage infection by breaking the molecule NAD+ to its constituents, adenosine diphosphate ribose (ADPR) and nicotinamide (Nam). To counter NAD+ depletion-mediated defense, phages evolved NAD+ reconstitution pathway 1 (NARP1), which uses ADPR and Nam to rebuild NAD+. Here we report a bacterial defense system called aRES, involving RES-domain proteins that degrade NAD+ into Nam and ADPR-1″-phosphate (ADPR-1P). This molecule cannot serve as a substrate for NARP1, so that NAD+ depletion by aRES defends against phages even if they encode NARP1. We further discover that some phages evolved an extended NARP1 pathway capable of overcoming aRES defense. In these phages, the NARP1 operon also includes a specialized phosphatase, which dephosphorylates ADPR-1P to form ADPR, a substrate from which NARP1 then reconstitutes NAD+. Other phages encode inhibitors that directly bind aRES proteins and physically block their active sites. Our study describes new layers in the NAD+-centric arms race between bacteria and phages and highlights the centrality of the NAD+ pool in cellular battles between viruses and their hosts. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. European Research Council, ERC-AdG GA 101018520 Israel Science Foundation, MAPATS grant 2720/22 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SPP 2330, grant 464312965 Minerva Foundation with funding from the Federal German Ministry for Education and Research research grant from Magnus Konow in honor of his mother Olga Konow Rappaport Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, https://ror.org/05aycsg86 Clore Scholars Program
tinyurl.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:34 PM
A few years back we discovered a dual hybrid protein modification composed of ADP-ribose dinucleotide and ubiquitin (ADPr-Ub). Now we reveal that ADPr-Ub can be further ubiquitinated by the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF114!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Identification of RNF114 as ADPr-Ub reader through non-hydrolysable ubiquitinated ADP-ribose - Nature Communications
Deltex E3s modify ADP-ribosylated targets with ubiquitin, creating a hybrid modification whose readers remains unknown. Here, the authors synthesise a non-hydrolysable probe that mimics the modificati...
www.nature.com
July 10, 2025 at 6:11 AM
🧬 Metabolic arms race continues!
We discovered a new NAD⁺-depleting bacterial immune system aRES and phage enzymes that overcome it.
Our preprint is out: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Bacterial defense via RES-mediated NAD+ depletion is countered by phage phosphatases
Many bacterial defense systems restrict phage infection by breaking the molecule NAD+ to its constituents, adenosine diphosphate ribose (ADPR) and nicotinamide (Nam). To counter NAD+ depletion-mediated defense, phages evolved NAD+ reconstitution pathway 1 (NARP1), which uses ADPR and Nam to rebuild NAD+. Here we report a bacterial defense system called aRES, involving RES-domain proteins that degrade NAD+ into Nam and ADPR-1″-phosphate (ADPR-1P). This molecule cannot serve as a substrate for NARP1, so that NAD+ depletion by aRES defends against phages even if they encode NARP1. We further discover that some phages evolved an extended NARP1 pathway capable of overcoming aRES defense. In these phages, the NARP1 operon also includes a specialized phosphatase, which dephosphorylates ADPR-1P to form ADPR, a substrate from which NARP1 then reconstitutes NAD+. Other phages encode inhibitors that directly bind aRES proteins and physically block their active sites. Our study describes new layers in the NAD+-centric arms race between bacteria and phages and highlights the centrality of the NAD+ pool in cellular battles between viruses and their hosts. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. European Research Council, ERC-AdG GA 101018520 Israel Science Foundation, MAPATS grant 2720/22 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SPP 2330, grant 464312965 Minerva Foundation with funding from the Federal German Ministry for Education and Research research grant from Magnus Konow in honor of his mother Olga Konow Rappaport Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, https://ror.org/05aycsg86 Clore Scholars Program
www.biorxiv.org
January 29, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Out in Nature today: A new immune signaling molecule, His-ADPR, is produced by defensive TIR domain proteins in bacteria to protect from phage

Joint work with the Tamulaitienė and Kranzusch labs

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Congrats Carmel Avraham, Dziugas Sabonis, Renee Chang and co-authors!
April 30, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Bacteria vs phage: new layers in NAD+ centric arms race

aRES is bacterial protein that blocks phage infection by cleaving NAD+ into ADPR-1P & nicotinamide. Phages counter using NAD+ reconstitution pathway w/ADPR-1P & nicotinamide as substrates
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Bacterial defense via RES-mediated NAD+ depletion is countered by phage phosphatases
Osterman et al. describe a bacterial defense protein that, once triggered by the phage DNA polymerase, blocks infection by cleaving NAD+ into ADPR-1P and nicotinamide. They show how phages counter thi...
www.cell.com
June 2, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Our latest study on ADP-ribosyl-linked serine ubiquitylation in the context of PARP1 signaling and the DNA damage response is out today in Nature Chemical Biology www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Serine ADPr on histones and PARP1 is a cellular target of ester-linked ubiquitylation - Nature Chemical Biology
RNF114 is an E3 ligase that can recognize ADP-ribose (ADPr) and ubiquitin with separate domains. Using these domains, Kolvenbach and Palumbieri et al. developed a proteomics approach to map ADP-ribosy...
www.nature.com
July 9, 2025 at 12:00 PM
RNF114 is an E3 ligase that can recognize ADP-ribose (ADPr) and ubiquitin with separate domains. A proteomics approach is developed using these domains to map ADP-ribosyl-ubiquitylation sites

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Serine ADPr on histones and PARP1 is a cellular target of ester-linked ubiquitylation - Nature Chemical Biology
RNF114 is an E3 ligase that can recognize ADP-ribose (ADPr) and ubiquitin with separate domains. Using these domains, Kolvenbach and Palumbieri et al. developed a proteomics approach to map ADP-ribosy...
www.nature.com
July 10, 2025 at 4:56 PM
🥳 Out now @embojournal.org!
Interferon induces a new class of p62 bodies, with #antiviral & #immunotherapy implications.
p62 is usually linked to #autophagy — but not here.
These are driven by PARP14-mediated ADP-ribosylation & rely on #ubiquitin #proteasome system. www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Interferon-induced PARP14-mediated ADP-ribosylation in p62 bodies requires the ubiquitin-proteasome system | The EMBO Journal
imageimageInterferon induces the formation of ADP-ribosylation (ADPr)-enriched p62 bodies, requiring PARP14 and p62. Unlike canonical p62 bodies, these ADPr-enriched structures are independent of auto...
www.embopress.org
April 8, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Phage RyR-domain proteins degrade ADPR-based immune signals and fuel NAD synthesis https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.28.727677v1
May 29, 2026 at 8:21 AM
Bacterial defense via RES-mediated NAD+ depletion is countered by phage phosphatases | bioRxiv https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.28.702374v1?rss=1
Bacterial defense via RES-mediated NAD+ depletion is countered by phage phosphatases
Many bacterial defense systems restrict phage infection by breaking the molecule NAD+ to its constituents, adenosine diphosphate ribose (ADPR) and nicotinamide (Nam). To counter NAD+ depletion-mediated defense, phages evolved NAD+ reconstitution pathway 1 (NARP1), which uses ADPR and Nam to rebuild NAD+. Here we report a bacterial defense system called aRES, involving RES-domain proteins that degrade NAD+ into Nam and ADPR-1″-phosphate (ADPR-1P). This molecule cannot serve as a substrate for NARP1, so that NAD+ depletion by aRES defends against phages even if they encode NARP1. We further discover that some phages evolved an extended NARP1 pathway capable of overcoming aRES defense. In these phages, the NARP1 operon also includes a specialized phosphatase, which dephosphorylates ADPR-1P to form ADPR, a substrate from which NARP1 then reconstitutes NAD+. Other phages encode inhibitors that directly bind aRES proteins and physically block their active sites. Our study describes new layers in the NAD+-centric arms race between bacteria and phages and highlights the centrality of the NAD+ pool in cellular battles between viruses and their hosts. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. European Research Council, ERC-AdG GA 101018520 Israel Science Foundation, MAPATS grant 2720/22 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SPP 2330, grant 464312965 Minerva Foundation with funding from the Federal German Ministry for Education and Research research grant from Magnus Konow in honor of his mother Olga Konow Rappaport Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, https://ror.org/05aycsg86 Clore Scholars Program
www.biorxiv.org
January 29, 2026 at 4:39 AM
Why?
NARP1 requires ADPR as a product of NAD⁺ cleavage.
But aRES doesn’t just break the bond between nicotinamide and ADPR — it adds a phosphate, generating ADPR-1″-phosphate (ADPR-1P).
January 29, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Another cool phage enzyme discovery! It degrades Thoeris signaling molecules into ADPR. Congrats to Miguel and all involved 🧬
(1/6) Thrilled to share this story! In our preprint from my PhD in the @kranzuschlab.bsky.social, with help from the Hatfull lab and @soreklab.bsky.social, we discover RyDEP, a phage-encoded RyR-domain glycosidase that allows phages to evade Thoeris defense. Highlights below! doi.org/10.64898/202...
May 29, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Preprint: Plant pathogens cleave 2’cADPR to suppress TIR immune signaling

Inspired by knowledge on how phages inhibit bacterial immunity, we now show that disease-causing bacteria inhibit plant immunity in a similar way. A 🧵

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Plant pathogens cleave 2'cADPR to suppress TIR immune signaling
Small molecules produced by TIR (Toll-interleukin-1 receptor) domains are essential for plant immune signaling. A central TIR-derived signal is 2'cADPR, a cyclic ADP-ribose (ADPR) molecule that is gen...
www.biorxiv.org
June 17, 2026 at 8:53 AM
We show that the E3 ubiquitin ligase DTX2 creates a dual hybrid ADP-ribosyl-ubiquitin mark (ADPr-Ub) at DNA damage sites, driving the recruitment of RNF114, RNF138, and RNF166 proteins independently of HPF1.
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Specificity and recognition of the ADP-ribosyl-ubiquitin modification in the DNA damage response
Recent studies have shown that ADP-ribose modifications can be further modified by ubiquitin (ADPr-Ub), but there are still major gaps in our knowledge around this modification and its role in the DNA damage response. This study biochemically characterises the amino acid specificity for ADPr-Ub production and its recognition by E3 ubiquitin ligases.
journals.plos.org
April 9, 2026 at 3:32 PM
The way I just squealed when this book mail arrived!!! Thank you so much to @headofzeus.bsky.social for sending me a copy of LM Chilton’s new book. I loved his last book (Don’t swipe right - 5⭐️!) , I’m beyond excited about this one! 💙📚

#booksky #bookmail #adpr
November 18, 2024 at 2:13 PM
Research from Renee Chang explains how viruses disrupt His-ADPR immune signaling. Kranzusch lab (kranzuschlab.med.harvard.edu), @soreklab.bsky.social, Tamulaitiene lab, @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
April 30, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Elegant prokaryote-style innate immunity revealed in Nature paper led by 🇱🇹 team

Histidine+ADP-ribose = His-ADPR

New bacterial “danger” molecule made during phage infection

Produced by TIR domains, recognized by Macro domains, and blocked by viral evasion proteins

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
May 1, 2025 at 10:48 AM
We call these mechanism based sirtuin inhibitors SirTraps that trap the enzyme via this ADP ribose adduct onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... 2/
From Pharmacophore to Warhead: NAD+‐Targeting Triazoles as Mechanism‐Based Sirtuin Inhibitors
We report “Sirtuin Trapping Ligands” (SirTraps), mechanism-based 1,2,3-triazole inhibitors that hijack sirtuin (SIRT) catalysis to form covalent triazolium– or triazole–ADP-ribose (ADPR) adducts from...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 2, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Here you can read our full review paper on the interplay between ADP-ribosylation and ubiquitination, with special focus on dual, hybrid modification ADPr-Ub:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41065402/
October 9, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Just finished a paper for my DGMD internship class. Now I just need to finish a paper for International ADPR 4600 in APA style. #MWrFa261
September 26, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Issue 21 highlights:
Paxilin’s nuclear switch in the brain
RING E3s reading & extending ADPr-ubiquitin
Review: Decoding immunometabolism
Nuclear actin limits chromatin leakage upon migratory squeeze
Cover by @syncellbiolab.bsky.social: unlike Odin-archael FtsZ twins
www.embopress.org/toc/14602075...
November 3, 2025 at 11:23 AM
On Wednesdays we receive pink books💕

Thank you soo much to @gambit589.bsky.social & @orbitbooks.bsky.social for this gorgeous finished copy of #TheIncandescent by @emilytesh.net — my Dark Academia Fantasy loving heart is soo happy right now😍❤️

#Bookmail #BookSky #ADPR
April 30, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Recent studies have shown that ADP-ribosyl modifications can be further modified by #ubiquitin (ADPr-Ub). @chatrin-c.bsky.social &co biochemically characterize the amino acid specificity for ADPr-Ub production and its recognition by E3 ubiquitin ligases @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4t43UJK
April 7, 2026 at 4:35 PM