Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.08.05.238287v1?rss=1 Authors: Sporny, M., Guez-Haddad, J., Khazma, T., Yaron, A., Dessau, M., Mim, C., Isupov, M. N., Zalk, R., Hons, M., Opatowsky, Y. Abstract: SARM1 is a central executor of axonal degeneration (1). Mechanistically, SARM1 contains NADase activity, which, in response to nerve injury, depletes the key cellular metabolite, NAD+ (2-5). Interestingly, SARM1 knockout mouse models do not present any apparent physiological impairment. Yet, the lack of SARM1 protects against various neuropathies (6, 7), thereby highlighting SARM1 as a likely safe and effective drug target (8). However, the absence of a SARM1 structure, in its active or inhibited form, makes it impossible to understand the molecular basis of SARM1 inhibition, and its activation under stress conditions. In this study we present two cryo-EM maps of SARM1 (at 2.6 and 2.9 Angstrom resolution). We show that the inhibited SARM1 homo-octamer assumes a packed conformation with well-ordered inner and peripheral rings. Here the catalytic TIR domains are held apart from each other and are unable to form dimers, which is a prerequisite for NADase activity. More importantly, after screening several cellular metabolites we discovered that the inactive conformation is stabilized by the binding of SARM1 own substrate: NAD+. The NAD+ inhibitory allosteric site is located away from the NAD+ catalytic site of the TIR domain. Site-directed mutagenesis of the allosteric site leads to constitutive active SARM1. Based on our data we propose that a reduction of cellular NAD+ concentrations (an early indication of disease-associated and age-related neurodegeneration (9)) disassemble SARM1 peripheral ring, which allows NADase activity. This leads to an energetic catastrophe and eventually cell death. The discovery of the allosteric inhibitory site opens the door for the development of effective drugs that will prevent SARM1 activation, rather than compete for binding to the NADase catalytic site. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info