Activation of proline metabolism maintains ATP levels during cocaine-induced polyADP-ribosylation

Cocaine is a commonly abused drug worldwide. Acute as well as repeated exposure to cocaine activates persistent cellular and molecular changes in the brain reward regions. The effects of cocaine are predominantly mediated via alterations in neuronal gene expression by chromatin remodeling. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) catalyzed PARylation of chromatin has been reported as an important regulator of cocaine-mediated gene expression. PARP-1 dependent ADP-ribosylation is an energy-dependent process. In this study, we investigated the cellular energy response to cocaine-induced upregulation of PARP-1 expression. Exposure of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells to varying concentrations of cocaine resulted in the induction of PARP-1 dependent PARylation of p53 tumor suppressor. Further analysis revealed that PARylation of p53 by cocaine treatment resulted in nuclear accumulation of p53. However, induction and nuclear accumulation of p53 did not correlate with neuronal apoptosis/cell death upon cocaine exposure. Interestingly, cocaine-induced p53 PARylation resulted in the induction of proline oxidase (POX)—a p53 responsive gene involved in cellular metabolism. Given that cocaine-induced p53 PARylation is an energy-dependent process, we observed that cocaine-induced PARP-1/p53/POX axes alters cellular energy metabolism. Accordingly, using pharmacological and genetic studies of PARP-1, p53, and POX, we demonstrated the contribution of POX in maintaining cellular energy during neuronal function. Collectively, these studies highlight activation of a novel metabolic pathway in response to cocaine treatment.