To provide a new protein derived from shellfish and having ADP ribosylation activity and use of the protein, more particularly provide a new protein derived from shellfish and having ADP ribosylation activity, an anticancer agent or apoptosis inducing agent containing the protein as a component, a method for the ADP ribosylation of DNA by using the protein, a method for inducing apoptosis of a cell, etc.

A new protein having ADP ribosylation activity using DNA as a substrate has been identified from a shellfish. The transfer of the protein into HeLa cell or TMK-1 cell known as cancer cell strain by electroporation induces apoptosis of HeLa cell and TMK-1 cell resulting in cell death. The protein found from shellfish and having ADP ribosylation activity is useful as an apoptosis inducing agent or an anticancer agent.