Proline oxidase silencing inhibits p53-dependent apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Proline oxidase (POX) is mitochondrial proline-degrading enzyme of dual apoptosis/survival function. POX expression and proline availability are considered an underlying mechanism for differential POX functions. The mechanism for POX-dependent regulation of cell death/survival was studied in wild-type (MCF-7(WT)) and shRNA POX-silenced breast cancer cells (MCF-7(iPOX)). Proline concentration and proteomic analyses were determined by LC/MS/QTOF and LC/MS/ORBITRA, respectively. Inhibition of collagen biosynthesis (proline utilizing process) by 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME) contributed to induction of apoptosis in MCF-7(WT) cells, as detected by increase in the expression of active caspase-3, -9 and p53. The process was not shown in MCF-7(iPOX). In MCF-7(iPOX) cells prolidase activity and expression as well as proline concentration were drastically increased, compared to MCF-7(WT) cells. Down-regulation of p53 in MCF-7(iPOX) cells was corroborated by proteomic analysis showing decrease in the expression of p53-related proteins. The mechanism for down-regulation of p53 expression in MCF-7(iPOX) cells was found at the level of p53–PEPD complex formation that was counteracted by hydrogen peroxide treatment. In this study, we found that silencing POX modulate pro-survival phenotype of MCF-7 cells and suggest that the mechanism of this process undergoes through down-regulation of p53-dependent signaling. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00726-021-03013-8.