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PARPs

Meaning

PARPs, or Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases, are a family of nuclear enzymes crucial for detecting and initiating the repair of single-strand DNA breaks and other forms of DNA damage. These enzymes utilize NAD+ as a substrate to catalyze the addition of ADP-ribose units onto target proteins, a process known as poly(ADP-ribosylation). PARP inhibition is a key therapeutic strategy in oncology, particularly for cancers with existing DNA repair defects, such as BRCA-mutated tumors.