Characterization of novel cytoplasmic PARP in the brain of Octopus vulgaris.

Recent investigation has focused on the participation of the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) reaction in the invertebrate central nervous system (CNS) during the process of long-term memory (LTM). In this paper, we characterize, localize, and assign a possible role to a cytoplasmic PARP in the brain of . PARP activity was assayed in optic lobes, supraesophageal mass, and optic nerves. The highest levels of enzyme were found in the cytoplasmic fraction. Hyper-activation of the enzyme was detected in brain after visual discrimination training. Finally, cytoplasmic PARP was found to inhibit actin polymerization. We propose that the cytoplasmic PARP plays a role to induce the cytoskeletonal reorganization that occurs during learning-induced neuronal plasticity.