title: Roles of the ubiquitin proteasome system in the effects of drugs of abuse.
abstract: Because of its ability to regulate the abundance of selected proteins the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) plays an important role in neuronal and synaptic plasticity. As a result various stages of learning and memory depend on UPS activity. Drug addiction, another phenomenon that relies on neuroplasticity, shares molecular substrates with memory processes. However, the necessity of proteasome-dependent protein degradation for the development of addiction has been poorly studied. Here we first review evidences from the literature that drugs of abuse regulate the expression and activity of the UPS system in the brain. We then provide a list of proteins which have been shown to be targeted to the proteasome following drug treatment and could thus be involved in neuronal adaptations underlying behaviors associated with drug use and abuse. Finally we describe the few studies that addressed the need for UPS-dependent protein degradation in animal models of addiction-related behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 5169 Toulouse, France ; Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 5089 Toulouse, France ; Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Massaly
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 5169 Toulouse, France ; Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Francès
authors.affiliation: Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 5089 Toulouse, France ; Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moulédous
keywords: addiction; drug abuse; nicotine; opioid; plasticity; proteasome; stimulants; ubiquitin