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He S, Dong G, Cheng J, Wu Y, Sheng C. Strategies for designing proteolysis targeting chimaeras (PROTACs). Med Res Rev 2022; 42:1280-1342. [PMID: 35001407 DOI: 10.1002/med.21877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimaeras (PROTACs) is a cutting edge and rapidly growing technique for new drug discovery and development. Currently, the largest challenge in the molecular design and drug development of PROTACs is efficient identification of potent and drug-like degraders. This review aims to comprehensively summarize and analyse state-of-the-art methods and strategies in the design of PROTACs. We provide a detailed illustration of the general principles and tactics for designing potent PROTACs, highlight representative case studies, and discuss the advantages and limitations of these strategies. Particularly, structure-based rational PROTAC design and emerging new types of PROTACs (e.g., homo-PROTACs, multitargeting PROTACs, photo-control PROTACs and PROTAC-based conjugates) will be focused on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shipeng He
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoqiang Dong
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junfei Cheng
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Pharmacy, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, China
| | - Chunquan Sheng
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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102
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Liu L, Shi L, Wang Z, Zeng J, Wang Y, Xiao H, Zhu Y. Targeting Oncoproteins for Degradation by Small Molecule-Based Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) in Sex Hormone-Dependent Cancers. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:839857. [PMID: 35370971 PMCID: PMC8971670 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.839857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex hormone-dependent cancers, including breast, ovary, and prostate cancer, contribute to the high number of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Steroid hormones promote tumor occurrence, development, and metastasis by acting on receptors, such as estrogen receptors (ERs), androgen receptors (ARs), and estrogen-related receptors (ERRs). Therefore, endocrine therapy targeting ERs, ARs, and ERRs represents the potential and pivotal therapeutic strategy in sex hormone-dependent cancers. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are a novel strategy that can harness the potential of the endogenous ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to target and degrade specific proteins, rather than simply inhibiting the activity of target proteins. Small molecule PROTACs degrade a variety of proteins in cells, mice, and humans and are an emerging approach for novel drug development. PROTACs targeting ARs, ERs, ERRs, and other proteins in sex hormone-dependent cancers have been reported and may overcome the problem of resistance to existing endocrine therapy and receptor antagonist treatments. This review briefly introduces the PROTAC strategy and summarizes the progress on the development of small molecule PROTACs targeting oncoproteins in sex hormone-dependent cancers, focusing on breast and prostate cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Lihong Shi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhaodi Wang
- Department of Gynecology, People’s Hospital of Henan University, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jun Zeng
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Gynecology, People’s Hospital of Henan University, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongtao Xiao
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongxia Zhu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Yongxia Zhu,
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Abstract
Bioorthogonal chemistry is a set of methods using the chemistry of non-native functional groups to explore and understand biology in living organisms. In this review, we summarize the most common reactions used in bioorthogonal methods, their relative advantages and disadvantages, and their frequency of occurrence in the published literature. We also briefly discuss some of the less common but potentially useful methods. We then analyze the bioorthogonal-related publications in the CAS Content Collection to determine how often different types of biomolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, glycans, and lipids have been studied using bioorthogonal chemistry. The most prevalent biological and chemical methods for attaching bioorthogonal functional groups to these biomolecules are elaborated. We also analyze the publication volume related to different types of bioorthogonal applications in the CAS Content Collection. The use of bioorthogonal chemistry for imaging, identifying, and characterizing biomolecules and for delivering drugs to treat disease is discussed at length. Bioorthogonal chemistry for the surface attachment of proteins and in the use of modified carbohydrates is briefly noted. Finally, we summarize the state of the art in bioorthogonal chemistry and its current limitations and promise for its future productive use in chemistry and biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Bird
- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43202, United States
| | - Steven A Lemmel
- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43202, United States
| | - Xiang Yu
- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43202, United States
| | - Qiongqiong Angela Zhou
- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43202, United States
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Hati S, Zallocchi M, Hazlitt R, Li Y, Vijayakumar S, Min J, Rankovic Z, Lovas S, Zuo J. AZD5438-PROTAC: A selective CDK2 degrader that protects against cisplatin- and noise-induced hearing loss. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 226:113849. [PMID: 34560429 PMCID: PMC8608744 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of hearing loss and cancer. Previously, we identified AZD5438 and AT7519-7 as potent inhibitors of CDK2, however, they also targeted additional kinases, leading to unwanted toxicities. Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are a new promising class of small molecules that can effectively direct specific proteins to proteasomal degradation. Herein we report the design, synthesis, and characterization of PROTACs of AT7519-7 and AZD5438 and the identification of PROTAC-8, an AZD5438-PROTAC, that exhibits selective, partial CDK2 degradation. Furthermore, PROTAC-8 protects against cisplatin ototoxicity and kainic acid excitotoxicity in zebrafish. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the structural requirements for CDK2 degradation. Together, PROTAC-8 is among the first-in-class PROTACs with in vivo therapeutic activities and represents a new lead compound that can be further developed for better efficacy and selectivity for CDK2 degradation against hearing loss and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santanu Hati
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Marisa Zallocchi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Robert Hazlitt
- Department of Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Yuju Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Sarath Vijayakumar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Jaeki Min
- Department of Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Zoran Rankovic
- Department of Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Sándor Lovas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Jian Zuo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA.
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105
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Wang C, Zhang Y, Wu Y, Xing D. Developments of CRBN-based PROTACs as potential therapeutic agents. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 225:113749. [PMID: 34411892 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Protease-targeted chimeras (PROTACs) are a new technology that is receiving much attention in the treatment of diseases. The mechanism is to inhibit protein function by hijacking the ubiquitin E3 ligase for protein degradation. Heterogeneous bifunctional PROTACs contain a ligand for recruiting E3 ligase, a linker, and another ligand to bind to the target protein for degradation. A variety of small-molecule PROTACs (CRBN, VHL, IAPs, MDM2, DCAF15, DCAF16, and RNF114-based PROTACs) have been identified so far. In particular, CRBN-based PROTACs (e.g., ARV-110 and ARV-471) have received more attention for their promising therapeutic intervention. To date, CRBN-based PRTOACs have been extensively explored worldwide and have excelled not only in cancer diseases but also in cardiovascular diseases, immune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and viral infections. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive update on the latest research progress in CRBN-based PRTOACs area. Following the criteria, such as disease area and drug target class, we will present the degradants in alphabetical order by target. We also provide our own perspective on the future prospects and potential challenges facing PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Yujing Zhang
- The Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Yudong Wu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Dongming Xing
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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106
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Hyun S, Shin D. Small-Molecule Inhibitors and Degraders Targeting KRAS-Driven Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212142. [PMID: 34830024 PMCID: PMC8621880 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance continues to be a major problem associated with cancer treatment. One of the primary causes of anticancer drug resistance is the frequently mutated RAS gene. In particular, considerable efforts have been made to treat KRAS-induced cancers by directly and indirectly controlling the activity of KRAS. However, the RAS protein is still one of the most prominent targets for drugs in cancer treatment. Recently, novel targeted protein degradation (TPD) strategies, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras, have been developed to render "undruggable" targets druggable and overcome drug resistance and mutation problems. In this study, we discuss small-molecule inhibitors, TPD-based small-molecule chemicals for targeting RAS pathway proteins, and their potential applications for treating KRAS-mutant cancers. Novel TPD strategies are expected to serve as promising therapeutic methods for treating tumor patients with KRAS mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soonsil Hyun
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, 194-21 Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28160, Korea;
| | - Dongyun Shin
- Gachon Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, 191 Hambakmoe-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21936, Korea
- Correspondence:
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107
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Mathien S, Tesnière C, Meloche S. Regulation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathways by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and Its Pharmacological Potential. Pharmacol Rev 2021; 73:263-296. [PMID: 34732541 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.120.000170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways that play essential roles in transducing extracellular environmental signals into diverse cellular responses to maintain homeostasis. These pathways are classically organized into an architecture of three sequentially acting protein kinases: a MAPK kinase kinase that phosphorylates and activates a MAPK kinase, which in turn phosphorylates and activates the effector MAPK. The activity of MAPKs is tightly regulated by phosphorylation of their activation loop, which can be modulated by positive and negative feedback mechanisms to control the amplitude and duration of the signal. The signaling outcomes of MAPK pathways are further regulated by interactions of MAPKs with scaffolding and regulatory proteins. Accumulating evidence indicates that, in addition to these mechanisms, MAPK signaling is commonly regulated by ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS)-mediated control of the stability and abundance of MAPK pathway components. Notably, the biologic activity of some MAPKs appears to be regulated mainly at the level of protein turnover. Recent studies have started to explore the potential of targeted protein degradation as a powerful strategy to investigate the biologic functions of individual MAPK pathway components and as a new therapeutic approach to overcome resistance to current small-molecule kinase inhibitors. Here, we comprehensively review the mechanisms, physiologic importance, and pharmacological potential of UPS-mediated protein degradation in the control of MAPK signaling. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Accumulating evidence highlights the importance of targeted protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system in regulating and fine-tuning the signaling output of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Manipulating protein levels of MAPK cascade components may provide a novel approach for the development of selective pharmacological tools and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Mathien
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (S.Ma., C.T., S.Me.); and Molecular Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine (C.T., S.Me.) and Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (S.Me.), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Chloé Tesnière
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (S.Ma., C.T., S.Me.); and Molecular Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine (C.T., S.Me.) and Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (S.Me.), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sylvain Meloche
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (S.Ma., C.T., S.Me.); and Molecular Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine (C.T., S.Me.) and Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (S.Me.), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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108
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Wang Q, Shao X, Leung ELH, Chen Y, Yao X. Selectively targeting individual bromodomain: Drug discovery and molecular mechanisms. Pharmacol Res 2021; 172:105804. [PMID: 34450309 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Bromodomain-containing proteins include bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) and non-BET families. Due to the conserved bromodomain (BD) module between BD-containing proteins, and especially BETs with each member having two BDs (BD1 and BD2), the high degree of structural similarity makes BD-selective inhibitors much difficult to be designed. However, increasing evidences emphasized that individual BDs had distinct functions and different cellular phenotypes after pharmacological inhibition, and selectively targeting one of the BDs could result in a different efficacy and tolerability profile. This review is to summarize the pioneering progress of BD-selective inhibitors targeting BET and non-BET proteins, focusing on their structural features, biological activity, therapeutic application and experimental/theoretical mechanisms. The present proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTAC) degraders targeting BDs, and clinical status of BD-selective inhibitors were also analyzed, providing a new insight into future direction of bromodomain-selective drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Wang
- Chronic Disease Research Center, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian 116622, China
| | - Xiaomin Shao
- Chronic Disease Research Center, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian 116622, China
| | - Elaine Lai Han Leung
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau(SAR) 999078, China
| | - Yingqing Chen
- Chronic Disease Research Center, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian 116622, China.
| | - Xiaojun Yao
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau(SAR) 999078, China.
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109
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Reboud-Ravaux M. [Induced degradation of proteins by PROTACs and other strategies: towards promising drugs]. Biol Aujourdhui 2021; 215:25-43. [PMID: 34397373 DOI: 10.1051/jbio/2021007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD), discovered twenty years ago through the PROTAC technology, is rapidly developing thanks to the implication of many scientists from industry and academia. PROTAC chimeras are heterobifunctional molecules able to link simultaneously a protein to be degraded and an E3 ubiquitin ligase. This allows the protein ubiquitination and its degradation by 26S proteasome. PROTACs have evolved from small peptide molecules to small non-peptide and orally available molecules. It was shown that PROTACs are capable to degrade proteins considered as "undruggable" i.e. devoid of well-defined pockets and deep grooves possibly occupied by small molecules. Among these "hard to drug" proteins, several can be degraded by PROTACs: scaffold proteins, BAF complex, transcription factors, Ras family proteins. Two PROTACs are clinically tested for breast (ARV471) and prostate (ARV110) cancers. The protein degradation by proteasome is also induced by other types of molecules: molecular glues, hydrophobic tagging (HyT), HaloPROTACs and homo-PROTACs. Other cellular constituents are eligible to induced degradation: RNA-PROTACs for RNA binding proteins and RIBOTACs for degradation of RNA itself (SARS-CoV-2 RNA). TPD has recently moved beyond the proteasome with LYTACs (lysosome targeting chimeras) and MADTACs (macroautophagy degradation targeting chimeras). Several techniques such as screening platforms together with mathematical modeling and computational design are now used to improve the discovery of new efficient PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michèle Reboud-Ravaux
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS), CNRS UMR 8256, Inserm ERL U1164, 7 quai Saint-Bernard, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
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110
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Powell M, Blaskovich MAT, Hansford KA. Targeted Protein Degradation: The New Frontier of Antimicrobial Discovery? ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:2050-2067. [PMID: 34259518 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation aims to hijack endogenous protein quality control systems to achieve direct knockdown of protein targets. This exciting technology utilizes event-based pharmacology to produce therapeutic outcomes, a feature that distinguishes it from classical occupancy-based inhibitor agents. Early degrader candidates display resilience to mutations while possessing potent nanomolar activity and high target specificity. Paired with the rapid advancement of our knowledge in the factors driving targeted degradation, the expansion of this style of therapeutic agent to a range of disease indications is eagerly awaited. In particular, the area of antibiotic discovery is sorely lacking in novel approaches, with the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) crisis looming as the next potential global health calamity. Here, the current advances in targeted protein degradation are highlighted, and potential approaches for designing novel antimicrobial protein degraders are proposed, ranging from adaptations of current strategies to completely novel approaches to targeted protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Powell
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Mark A. T. Blaskovich
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Karl A. Hansford
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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111
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Kaye EG, Kailass K, Sadovski O, Beharry AA. A Green-Absorbing, Red-Fluorescent Phenalenone-Based Photosensitizer as a Theranostic Agent for Photodynamic Therapy. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:1295-1301. [PMID: 34413959 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenalenone is a synthetically accessible, highly efficient photosensitizer with a near-unity singlet oxygen quantum yield. Unfortunately, its UV absorption and lack of fluorescence has made it unsuitable for fluorescence-guided photodynamic therapy against cancer. In this work, we synthesized a series of phenalenone derivatives containing electron-donating groups to red-shift the absorption spectrum and bromine(s) to permit good singlet oxygen production via the heavy-atom effect. Of the derivatives synthesized, the phenalenone containing an amine at the 6-position with bromines at the 2- and 5-positions (OE19) exhibited the longest absorption wavelength (i.e., green) and produced both singlet oxygen and red fluorescence efficiently. OE19 induced photocytotoxicity with nanomolar potency in 2D cultured PANC-1 cancer cells as well as light-induced destruction of PANC-1 spheroids with minimal dark toxicity. Overall, OE19 opens up the possibility of employing phenalenone-based photosensitizers as theranostic agents for photodynamic cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther G. Kaye
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Karishma Kailass
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Oleg Sadovski
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Andrew A. Beharry
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
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Teng M, Jiang J, Ficarro SB, Seo HS, Bae JH, Donovan KA, Fischer ES, Zhang T, Dhe-Paganon S, Marto JA, Gray NS. Exploring Ligand-Directed N-Acyl- N-alkylsulfonamide-Based Acylation Chemistry for Potential Targeted Degrader Development. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:1302-1307. [PMID: 34413960 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ligand-directed bioconjugation strategies have been used for selective protein labeling in live cells or tissue samples in applications such as live-cell imaging. Here we hypothesized that a similar strategy could be used for targeted protein degradation. To test this possibility, we developed a series of CDK2-targeting N-acyl-N-alkylsulfonamide (NASA)-containing acylation probes. The probes featured three components: a CDK2 homing ligand, a CRL4CRBN E3 ligase recruiting ligand, and a NASA functionality. We determined that upon target binding, NASA-mediated reaction resulted in selective functionalization of Lys89 on purified or native CDK2. However, we were unable to observe CDK2 degradation, which is in contrast to the efficient degradation achieved by the use of a structurally similar reversible bivalent degrader. Our analysis suggests that the lack of degradation is due to the failure to form a productive CDK2:CRBN complex. Therefore, although this work demonstrates that NASA chemistry can be used for protein labeling, whether this strategy could enable efficient protein degradation remains an open question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Teng
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Jie Jiang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Scott B. Ficarro
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department of Oncologic Pathology and Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Hyuk-Soo Seo
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Jae Hyun Bae
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Katherine A. Donovan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Eric S. Fischer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Tinghu Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, ChEM-H, Stanford Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Sirano Dhe-Paganon
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Jarrod A. Marto
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department of Oncologic Pathology and Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Nathanael S. Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, ChEM-H, Stanford Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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113
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Samarasinghe KTG, Crews CM. Targeted protein degradation: A promise for undruggable proteins. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:934-951. [PMID: 34004187 PMCID: PMC8286327 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Protein homeostasis, or "proteostasis," is indispensable for a balanced, healthy environment within the cell. However, when natural proteostasis mechanisms are overwhelmed from excessive loads of dysregulated proteins, their accumulation can lead to disease initiation and progression. Recently, the induced degradation of such disease-causing proteins by heterobifunctional molecules, i.e., PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs), is emerging as a potential therapeutic modality. In the 2 decades since the PROTAC concept was proposed, several additional Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) strategies have also been explored to target previously undruggable proteins, such as transcription factors. In this review, we discuss the progress and evolution of the TPD field, the breadth of the proteins targeted by PROTACs and the biological effects of their degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kusal T G Samarasinghe
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Craig M Crews
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
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114
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Bricelj A, Steinebach C, Kuchta R, Gütschow M, Sosič I. E3 Ligase Ligands in Successful PROTACs: An Overview of Syntheses and Linker Attachment Points. Front Chem 2021; 9:707317. [PMID: 34291038 PMCID: PMC8287636 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.707317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have received tremendous attention as a new and exciting class of therapeutic agents that promise to significantly impact drug discovery. These bifunctional molecules consist of a target binding unit, a linker, and an E3 ligase binding moiety. The chemically-induced formation of ternary complexes leads to ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of target proteins. Among the plethora of E3 ligases, only a few have been utilized for the novel PROTAC technology. However, extensive knowledge on the preparation of E3 ligands and their utilization for PROTACs has already been acquired. This review provides an in-depth analysis of synthetic entries to functionalized ligands for the most relevant E3 ligase ligands, i.e. CRBN, VHL, IAP, and MDM2. Less commonly used E3 ligase and their ligands are also presented. We compare different preparative routes to E3 ligands with respect to feasibility and productivity. A particular focus was set on the chemistry of the linker attachment by discussing the synthetic opportunities to connect the E3 ligand at an appropriate exit vector with a linker to assemble the final PROTAC. This comprehensive review includes many facets involved in the synthesis of such complex molecules and is expected to serve as a compendium to support future synthetic attempts towards PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleša Bricelj
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Robert Kuchta
- Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Izidor Sosič
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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115
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Yuan M, Chu Y, Duan Y. Reversible Covalent PROTACs: Novel and Efficient Targeted Degradation Strategy. Front Chem 2021; 9:691093. [PMID: 34291036 PMCID: PMC8287302 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.691093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which are composed of a target protein binding moiety, a linker, and an E3 ubiquitin ligase binder, have been a promising strategy for drug design and discovery. Given the advantages of potency, selectivity, and drug resistance over inhibitors, several PROTACs have been reported in literature, which mostly focus on noncovalent or irreversible covalent binding to the target proteins. However, it must be noted that noncovalent or irreversible PROTACs have several drawbacks such as weak binding affinity and unpredictable off-target effects. Reversible covalent PROTACs, with properties of enhanced potency, selectivity, and long duration of action, have attracted an increasing amount of attention. Here, we propose a comparison between these three patterns and highlight that reversible covalent PROTACs could pave the way for a wide variety of challenging target degradations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghua Yuan
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanan Chu
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yongtao Duan
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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116
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Tomoshige S, Ishikawa M. In vivo synthetic chemistry of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 41:116221. [PMID: 34034148 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chemical knockdown of therapeutic targets using proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) is a rapidly developing field in drug discovery, but PROTACs are bifunctional molecules that generally show poor bioavailability due to their relatively high molecular weight. Recent developments aimed at the development of next-generation PROTACs include the in vivo synthesis of PROTAC molecules, and the exploitation of PROTACs as chemical tools for in vivo synthesis of ubiquitinated proteins. This short review covers recent advances in these areas and discusses the prospects for in vivo synthetic PROTAC technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shusuke Tomoshige
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan.
| | - Minoru Ishikawa
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan
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117
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Abstract
A current bottleneck in the development of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) is the empirical nature of linker length structure-activity relationships (SARs). A multidisciplinary approach to alleviate the bottleneck is detailed here. First, we examine four published synthetic approaches that have been developed to increase synthetic throughput. We then discuss advances in structural biology and computational chemistry that have led to successful rational PROTAC design efforts and give promise to de novo linker design in silico. Lastly, we present a model generated from a curated list of linker SARs studies normalized to reflect how linear linker length affects the observed degradation potency (DC50).
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy A. Bemis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093–0358, United States
| | - James J. La Clair
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093–0358, United States
| | - Michael D. Burkart
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093–0358, United States
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118
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Barghout SH. Targeted Protein Degradation: An Emerging Therapeutic Strategy in Cancer. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 21:214-230. [PMID: 32275492 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620666200410082652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Drug discovery in the scope of cancer therapy has been focused on conventional agents that nonselectively induce DNA damage or selectively inhibit the activity of key oncogenic molecules without affecting their protein levels. An emerging therapeutic strategy that garnered attention in recent years is the induction of Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) of cellular targets by hijacking the intracellular proteolysis machinery. This novel approach offers several advantages over conventional inhibitors and introduces a paradigm shift in several pharmacological aspects of drug therapy. While TPD has been found to be the major mode of action of clinically approved anticancer agents such as fulvestrant and thalidomide, recent years have witnessed systematic endeavors to expand the repertoire of proteins amenable to therapeutic ablation by TPD. Such endeavors have led to three major classes of agents that induce protein degradation, including molecular glues, Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) and Hydrophobic Tag (HyT)-based degraders. Here, we briefly highlight agents in these classes and key advances made in the field with a focus on clinical translation in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir H Barghout
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
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119
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LaPlante G, Zhang W. Targeting the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System for Cancer Therapeutics by Small-Molecule Inhibitors. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3079. [PMID: 34203106 PMCID: PMC8235664 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13123079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a critical regulator of cellular protein levels and activity. It is, therefore, not surprising that its dysregulation is implicated in numerous human diseases, including many types of cancer. Moreover, since cancer cells exhibit increased rates of protein turnover, their heightened dependence on the UPS makes it an attractive target for inhibition via targeted therapeutics. Indeed, the clinical application of proteasome inhibitors in treatment of multiple myeloma has been very successful, stimulating the development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting other UPS components. On the other hand, while the discovery of potent and selective chemical compounds can be both challenging and time consuming, the area of targeted protein degradation through utilization of the UPS machinery has seen promising developments in recent years. The repertoire of proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which employ E3 ligases for the degradation of cancer-related proteins via the proteasome, continues to grow. In this review, we will provide a thorough overview of small-molecule UPS inhibitors and highlight advancements in the development of targeted protein degradation strategies for cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel LaPlante
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada;
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada;
- CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, MaRS Centre West Tower, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G1M1, Canada
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120
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Ito T, Yamaguchi Y, Handa H. Exploiting ubiquitin ligase cereblon as a target for small-molecule compounds in medicine and chemical biology. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:987-999. [PMID: 34033753 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cereblon (CRBN), originally identified as a gene associated with intellectual disability, was identified as primary target of thalidomide. Accumulating evidence has shown that CRBN is a substrate receptor of Cullin Ring E3 ubiquitin ligase 4 (CRL4) containing DDB1, CUL4, and RBX1, which recognizes specific neosubstrates in the presence of thalidomide or its analogs and induces their ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. A set of small-molecule, CRBN-binding drugs are known as molecular glue degraders because these compounds promote the interaction between CRBN and its neosubstrates. Moreover, CRBN-based proteolysis-targeting chimeras, heterobifunctional molecules hijacking CRBN and inducing degradation of proteins of interest, have emerged as a promising modality in drug development and are being actively investigated. Meanwhile, the original functions and regulations of CRBN are still largely elusive. In this review, we describe key findings surrounding CRBN since its discovery and then discuss a few unanswered issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Ito
- Department of Chemical Biology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku 160-8402, Japan
| | - Yuki Yamaguchi
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Handa
- Department of Chemical Biology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku 160-8402, Japan.
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121
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Siklos M, Kubicek S. Therapeutic targeting of chromatin: status and opportunities. FEBS J 2021; 289:1276-1301. [PMID: 33982887 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The molecular characterization of mechanisms underlying transcriptional control and epigenetic inheritance since the 1990s has paved the way for the development of targeted therapies that modulate these pathways. In the past two decades, cancer genome sequencing approaches have uncovered a plethora of mutations in chromatin modifying enzymes across tumor types, and systematic genetic screens have identified many of these proteins as specific vulnerabilities in certain cancers. Now is the time when many of these basic and translational efforts start to bear fruit and more and more chromatin-targeting drugs are entering the clinic. At the same time, novel pharmacological approaches harbor the potential to modulate chromatin in unprecedented fashion, thus generating entirely novel opportunities. Here, we review the current status of chromatin targets in oncology and describe a vision for the epigenome-modulating drugs of the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marton Siklos
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Kubicek
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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122
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Li X, Pu W, Chen S, Peng Y. Therapeutic targeting of RNA-binding protein by RNA-PROTAC. Mol Ther 2021; 29:1940-1942. [PMID: 33984279 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China; State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Orthodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Wenchen Pu
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Song Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Orthodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Yong Peng
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
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123
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Mukhamejanova Z, Tong Y, Xiang Q, Xu F, Pang J. Recent Advances in the Design and Development of Anticancer Molecules based on PROTAC Technology. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:1304-1327. [PMID: 32164504 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666200312112412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
PROTAC (Proteolysis Targeting Chimera) degraders based on protein knockdown technology are now suggested as a novel option for the treatment of various diseases. Over the last couple of years, the application of PROTAC technology has spread in a wide range of disorders, and plenty of PROTAC molecules with high potency have been reported. Mostly developing for anticancer therapy, these molecules showed high selectivities to target proteins, the ability to significantly induce degradation of oncoproteins, good in vitro and in vivo results. In this review, we summarized the recent development of PROTAC technology in the anticancer therapy field, including molecular design, types of targeted proteins, in vitro and in vivo results. Additionally, we also discuss the prospects and challenges for the application of candidates based on PROTAC strategy in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yichen Tong
- School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Qi Xiang
- Institute of Biomedicine & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Fang Xu
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jiyan Pang
- School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
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124
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Wang Z, Ma Z, Shen Z. Selective degradation of the estrogen receptor in the treatment of cancers. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 209:105848. [PMID: 33610801 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2021.105848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor subtype α (ERα) plays key roles in breast cancers, and has been a target for endocrine therapy for a long time. Unfortunately, long-term treatment by Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) or Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) could cause drug resistance and also would increase the risk for uterine cancer. Therefore, novel anti-breast cancer drugs based on different mechanisms of action have received significant attention, especially through the strategies of selective degradation of ER. In this article, the latest research progress of selective targeting ER for degradation, including Selective ER Downregulators (SERDs), Proteolysis Targeting Chimaeras (PROTACs) and other techniques, was reviewed, and the applications and problems to be solved were prospected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zunyuan Wang
- Institute of Materia Medica, Hangzhou Medical College, 310013 Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhen Ma
- Institute of Materia Medica, Hangzhou Medical College, 310013 Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhengrong Shen
- Institute of Materia Medica, Hangzhou Medical College, 310013 Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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125
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Gao Z, Li Y, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Chen F, An P, Lu W, Hu J, You C, Xu J, Zhang X, Sun B. Small-Molecule-Selective Organosilica Nanoreactors for Copper-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition Reactions in Cellular and Living Systems. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:3401-3409. [PMID: 33843242 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c04930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We reported the synthesis of a tris(triazolylmethyl)amine (TTA)-bridged organosilane, functioning as Cu(I)-stabilizing ligands, and the installation of this building block into the backbone of mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (TTASi) by a sol-gel way. Upon coordinating with Cu(I), the mesoporous CuI-TTASi, with a restricted metal active center inside the pore, functions as a molecular-sieve-typed nanoreactor to efficiently perform Cu(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions on small-molecule substrates but fails to work on macromolecules larger than the pore diameter. As a proof of concept, we witnessed the advantages of selective nanoreactors in screening protein substrates for small molecules. Also, the robust CuI-TTASi could be implanted into the body of animal models including zebrafish and mice as biorthogonal catalysts without apparent toxicity, extending its utilization in vivo ranging from fluorescent labeling to in situ drug synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiguo Gao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210089, PR China
| | - Yaojia Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210089, PR China
| | - Zhikun Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210089, PR China
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210089, PR China
| | - Fanghui Chen
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210089, PR China
| | - Peijing An
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210089, PR China
| | - Wenjun Lu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210089, PR China
| | - Jinzhong Hu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210089, PR China
| | - Chaoqun You
- College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, PR China
| | - Jun Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China
| | - Baiwang Sun
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210089, PR China
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126
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Cecchini C, Pannilunghi S, Tardy S, Scapozza L. From Conception to Development: Investigating PROTACs Features for Improved Cell Permeability and Successful Protein Degradation. Front Chem 2021; 9:672267. [PMID: 33959589 PMCID: PMC8093871 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.672267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are heterobifunctional degraders that specifically eliminate targeted proteins by hijacking the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). This modality has emerged as an orthogonal approach to the use of small-molecule inhibitors for knocking down classic targets and disease-related proteins classified, until now, as "undruggable." In early 2019, the first targeted protein degraders reached the clinic, drawing attention to PROTACs as one of the most appealing technology in the drug discovery landscape. Despite these promising results, PROTACs are often affected by poor cellular permeability due to their high molecular weight (MW) and large exposed polar surface area (PSA). Herein, we report a comprehensive record of PROTAC design, pharmacology and thermodynamic challenges and solutions, as well as some of the available strategies to enhance cellular uptake, including suggestions of promising biological tools for the in vitro evaluation of PROTACs permeability toward successful protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Cecchini
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Pharmaceutical Biochemistry/Chemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sara Pannilunghi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Pharmaceutical Biochemistry/Chemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sébastien Tardy
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Pharmaceutical Biochemistry/Chemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Leonardo Scapozza
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Pharmaceutical Biochemistry/Chemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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127
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Guan I, Williams K, Pan J, Liu X. New Cysteine Covalent Modification Strategies Enable Advancement of Proteome‐wide Selectivity of Kinase Modulators. ASIAN J ORG CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ajoc.202100036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ivy Guan
- School of Chemistry The Heart Research Institute The University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2006 Australia
| | - Kayla Williams
- School of Chemistry The University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2006 Australia
| | - Jolyn Pan
- Faculty of Science & Engineering The University of Waikato 124 Hillcrest Road, Hillcrest Hamilton 3216 New Zealand
| | - Xuyu Liu
- School of Chemistry The Heart Research Institute The University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2006 Australia
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128
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Wu X, Yang X, Xiong Y, Li R, Ito T, Ahmed TA, Karoulia Z, Adamopoulos C, Wang H, Wang L, Xie L, Liu J, Ueberheide B, Aaronson SA, Chen X, Buchanan SG, Sellers WR, Jin J, Poulikakos PI. Distinct CDK6 complexes determine tumor cell response to CDK4/6 inhibitors and degraders. NATURE CANCER 2021; 2:429-443. [PMID: 34568836 PMCID: PMC8462800 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-021-00174-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) are effective in metastatic breast cancer, but they have been only modestly effective in most other tumor types. Here we show that tumors expressing low CDK6 rely on CDK4 function, and are exquisitely sensitive to CDK4/6i. In contrast, tumor cells expressing both CDK4 and CDK6 have increased reliance on CDK6 to ensure cell cycle progression. We discovered that CDK4/6i and CDK4/6 degraders potently bind and inhibit CDK6 selectively in tumors in which CDK6 is highly thermo-unstable and strongly associated with the HSP90/CDC37 complex. In contrast, CDK4/6i and CDK4/6 degraders are ineffective in antagonizing tumor cells expressing thermostable CDK6, due to their weaker binding to CDK6 in these cells. Thus, we uncover a general mechanism of intrinsic resistance to CDK4/6i and CDK4/6i-derived degraders and the need for novel inhibitors targeting the CDK4/6i-resistant, thermostable form of CDK6 for application as cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuewei Wu
- Department of Oncological Sciences, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiaobao Yang
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yan Xiong
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ruitong Li
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Takahiro Ito
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tamer A Ahmed
- Department of Oncological Sciences, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zoi Karoulia
- Department of Oncological Sciences, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christos Adamopoulos
- Department of Oncological Sciences, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hong Wang
- Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ling Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Beatrix Ueberheide
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stuart A Aaronson
- Department of Oncological Sciences, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xian Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - William R Sellers
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jian Jin
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Poulikos I Poulikakos
- Department of Oncological Sciences, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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129
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Kiely-Collins H, Winter GE, Bernardes GJL. The role of reversible and irreversible covalent chemistry in targeted protein degradation. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:952-968. [PMID: 33789091 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) that degrade disease-causing proteins by hijacking the endogenous ubiquitin-proteasome system have emerged as an exciting and transformative technology in both chemical biology and drug discovery. Currently, the majority of PROTACs use reversible non-covalent ligands for both the target protein of interest (POI) and E3 ligase. In this review, we explore the burgeoning role of reversible and irreversible covalent chemistry in targeted protein degradation. We highlight the key advantages of targeted covalent inhibitors, whether as the target POI or E3 ligase ligand, such as their ability to enhance the selectivity of PROTACs, enable access to more of the "undruggable" proteome and expand the repertoire of recruited E3 ligases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Kiely-Collins
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Georg E Winter
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gonçalo J L Bernardes
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Universidad de Lisboa, Avenida Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
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130
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Maneiro M, De Vita E, Conole D, Kounde CS, Zhang Q, Tate EW. PROTACs, molecular glues and bifunctionals from bench to bedside: Unlocking the clinical potential of catalytic drugs. PROGRESS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2021; 60:67-190. [PMID: 34147206 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmch.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The vast majority of currently marketed drugs rely on small molecules with an 'occupancy-driven' mechanism of action (MOA). Therefore, the efficacy of these therapeutics depends on a high degree of target engagement, which often requires high dosages and enhanced drug exposure at the target site, thus increasing the risk of off-target toxicities (Churcher, 2018 [1]). Although small molecule drugs have been successfully used as treatments for decades, tackling a variety of disease-relevant targets with a defined binding site, many relevant therapeutic targets remain challenging to drug due, for example, to lack of well-defined binding pockets or large protein-protein interaction (PPI) interfaces which resist interference (Dang et al., 2017 [2]). In the quest for alternative therapeutic approaches to address different pathologies and achieve enhanced efficacy with reduced side effects, ligand-induced targeted protein degradation (TPD) has gained the attention of many research groups both in academia and in industry in the last two decades. This therapeutic modality represents a novel paradigm compared to conventional small-molecule inhibitors. To pursue this strategy, heterobifunctional small molecule degraders, termed PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) have been devised to artificially redirect a protein of interest (POI) to the cellular protein homeostasis machinery for proteasomal degradation (Chamberlain et al., 2019 [3]). In this chapter, the development of PROTACs will first be discussed providing a historical perspective in parallel to the experimental progress made to understand this novel therapeutic modality. Furthermore, common strategies for PROTAC design, including assays and troubleshooting tips will be provided for the reader, before presenting a compendium of all PROTAC targets reported in the literature to date. Due to the recent advancement of these molecules into clinical trials, consideration of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic properties will be introduced, together with the biotech landscape that has developed from the success of PROTACs. Finally, an overview of subsequent strategies for targeted protein degradation will be presented, concluding with further scientific quests triggered by the invention of PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Maneiro
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - E De Vita
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - D Conole
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - C S Kounde
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Q Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - E W Tate
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
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131
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Wang C, Wang H, Zheng C, Liu Z, Gao X, Xu F, Niu Y, Zhang L, Xu P. Research progress of MEK1/2 inhibitors and degraders in the treatment of cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 218:113386. [PMID: 33774345 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases 1 and 2 (MEK1/2) are the crucial part of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway (or ERK pathway), which is involved in the regulation of various cellular processes including proliferation, survival, and differentiation et al. Targeting MEK has become an important strategy for cancer therapy, and 4 MEK inhibitors (MEKis) have been approved by FDA to date. However, the application of MEKis is limited due to acquired resistance under long-term treatment. Fortunately, an emerging technology, named proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC), could break through this limitation by inducing MEK1/2 degradation. Compared to MEKis, MEK1/2 PROTAC is rarely studied and only three MEK1/2 PROTAC molecules, have been reported until now. This paper will outline the ERK pathway and the mechanism and research progress of MEK1/2 inhibitors, but focus on the development of MEK degraders and their optimization strategies. PAC-1 strategy which can induce MEK degradation indirectly, other PROTACs on ERK pathway, the advantages and challenges of PROTAC technology will be subsequently discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- National Pharmaceutical Teaching Laboratory Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Han Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Cangxin Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaozuo Gao
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Fengrong Xu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Niu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Liangren Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Xu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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132
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Yip HYK, Papa A. Signaling Pathways in Cancer: Therapeutic Targets, Combinatorial Treatments, and New Developments. Cells 2021; 10:659. [PMID: 33809714 PMCID: PMC8002322 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular alterations in cancer genes and associated signaling pathways are used to inform new treatments for precision medicine in cancer. Small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies directed at relevant cancer-related proteins have been instrumental in delivering successful treatments of some blood malignancies (e.g., imatinib with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)) and solid tumors (e.g., tamoxifen with ER positive breast cancer and trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer). However, inherent limitations such as drug toxicity, as well as acquisition of de novo or acquired mechanisms of resistance, still cause treatment failure. Here we provide an up-to-date review of the successes and limitations of current targeted therapies for cancer treatment and highlight how recent technological advances have provided a new level of understanding of the molecular complexity underpinning resistance to cancer therapies. We also raise three basic questions concerning cancer drug discovery based on molecular markers and alterations of selected signaling pathways, and further discuss how combination therapies may become the preferable approach over monotherapy for cancer treatments. Finally, we consider novel therapeutic developments that may complement drug delivery and significantly improve clinical response and outcomes of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonella Papa
- Cancer Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia;
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133
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Tomoshige S, Ishikawa M. PROTACs and Other Chemical Protein Degradation Technologies for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202004746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shusuke Tomoshige
- Graduate School of Life Sciences Tohoku University 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-8577 Japan
| | - Minoru Ishikawa
- Graduate School of Life Sciences Tohoku University 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-8577 Japan
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134
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Chen J, Qiu M, Ma F, Yang L, Glass Z, Xu Q. Enhanced protein degradation by intracellular delivery of pre-fused PROTACs using lipid-like nanoparticles. J Control Release 2021; 330:1244-1249. [PMID: 33234362 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimaera (PROTAC) technology is an emerging approach for achieving targeted degradation of a protein of interest (POI) intracellularly. However, the cell permeability of PROTACs is limited by their high molecular weight and total polar surface area. Moreover, the activation of the proteasome-mediated degradation by PROTAC requires the formation of a ternary (three-component) complex, composed of the PROTAC, the POIs, and E3-ligases related proteins (E3Ps). Simplifying the three-component system to two-component system could theoretically increase the efficiency of the formation of ternary complex and enhance the protein degradation efficiency. Herein, we demonstrate that pre-fusion of PROTACs with E3Ps (called "pre-fused PROTACs") before administration could transform the original PROTAC system to two-component system. After delivery by lipid nanoparticles, the degradation of POI by pre-fused PROTACs was dramatically increased and accelerated compared with standard PROTACs. Moreover, we demonstrated that this approach could be generalized to another hydrophobic tag (HyT) degrader by demonstrating the improved targeted protein degradation after pre-fusion the HyT degrader with heat shock protein 70 (HSP70).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjin Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Min Qiu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Feihe Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Zachary Glass
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Qiaobing Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA.
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135
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Gabizon R, London N. The rise of covalent proteolysis targeting chimeras. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 62:24-33. [PMID: 33549806 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation offers several advantages over direct inhibition of protein activity and is gaining increasing interest in chemical biology and drug discovery. Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) in particular are enjoying widespread application. However, PROTACs, which recruit an E3 ligase for degradation of a target protein, still suffer from certain challenges. These include a limited selection for E3 ligases on the one hand and the requirement for potent target binding on the other hand. Both issues restrict the target scope available for PROTACs. Degraders that covalently engage the target protein or the E3 ligase can potentially expand the pool of both targets and E3 ligases. Moreover, they may offer additional advantages by improving the kinetics of ternary complex formation or by endowing additional selectivity to the degrader. Here, we review the recent progress in the emerging field of covalent PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronen Gabizon
- Department of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
| | - Nir London
- Department of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
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136
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Liu H, Sun R, Ren C, Qiu X, Yang X, Jiang B. Construction of an IMiD-based azide library as a kit for PROTAC research. Org Biomol Chem 2021; 19:166-170. [PMID: 33226388 DOI: 10.1039/d0ob02120b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
As a promising protein degradation strategy, PROTAC technology is increasingly becoming a new star in cancer treatment. Here we report the efficient construction of an IMiD-based azide library via a quick one-step conversion of the existing IMiD-based amine library. This new azide library can act as a kit to endow PROTAC libraries with triazole moieties for various POIs through a highly effective 'click reaction' and then help to rapidly screen out lead degraders that are valuable for drug development. Its power in fleetly identifying potent degraders has been verified on two oncogenic proteins, BCR-ABL and BET, the degraders of which showed comparable potency to or even higher potency than the reported PROTACs in degrading target proteins and effectively inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Liu
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China.
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137
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Shirasaki R, Matthews GM, Gandolfi S, de Matos Simoes R, Buckley DL, Raja Vora J, Sievers QL, Brüggenthies JB, Dashevsky O, Poarch H, Tang H, Bariteau MA, Sheffer M, Hu Y, Downey-Kopyscinski SL, Hengeveld PJ, Glassner BJ, Dhimolea E, Ott CJ, Zhang T, Kwiatkowski NP, Laubach JP, Schlossman RL, Richardson PG, Culhane AC, Groen RWJ, Fischer ES, Vazquez F, Tsherniak A, Hahn WC, Levy J, Auclair D, Licht JD, Keats JJ, Boise LH, Ebert BL, Bradner JE, Gray NS, Mitsiades CS. Functional Genomics Identify Distinct and Overlapping Genes Mediating Resistance to Different Classes of Heterobifunctional Degraders of Oncoproteins. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108532. [PMID: 33406420 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterobifunctional proteolysis-targeting chimeric compounds leverage the activity of E3 ligases to induce degradation of target oncoproteins and exhibit potent preclinical antitumor activity. To dissect the mechanisms regulating tumor cell sensitivity to different classes of pharmacological "degraders" of oncoproteins, we performed genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing studies. We observed that myeloma cell resistance to degraders of different targets (BET bromodomain proteins, CDK9) and operating through CRBN (degronimids) or VHL is primarily mediated by prevention of, rather than adaptation to, breakdown of the target oncoprotein; and this involves loss of function of the cognate E3 ligase or interactors/regulators of the respective cullin-RING ligase (CRL) complex. The substantial gene-level differences for resistance mechanisms to CRBN- versus VHL-based degraders explains mechanistically the lack of cross-resistance with sequential administration of these two degrader classes. Development of degraders leveraging more diverse E3 ligases/CRLs may facilitate sequential/alternating versus combined uses of these agents toward potentially delaying or preventing resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Shirasaki
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Matthews
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sara Gandolfi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ricardo de Matos Simoes
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dennis L Buckley
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Joseline Raja Vora
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Quinlan L Sievers
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Johanna B Brüggenthies
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Olga Dashevsky
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Haley Poarch
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Huihui Tang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Megan A Bariteau
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michal Sheffer
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yiguo Hu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sondra L Downey-Kopyscinski
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Paul J Hengeveld
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian J Glassner
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eugen Dhimolea
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher J Ott
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tinghu Zhang
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas P Kwiatkowski
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jacob P Laubach
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert L Schlossman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul G Richardson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aedin C Culhane
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard W J Groen
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eric S Fischer
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - William C Hahn
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Joan Levy
- Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, Norwalk, CT, USA
| | | | - Jonathan D Licht
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Lawrence H Boise
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology and the Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Benjamin L Ebert
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - James E Bradner
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Constantine S Mitsiades
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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138
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Ma K, Han XX, Yang XM, Zhou SL. Proteolysis targeting chimera technology: a novel strategy for treating diseases of the central nervous system. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:1944-1949. [PMID: 33642364 PMCID: PMC8343312 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.308075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurological diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease are among the intractable diseases for which appropriate drugs and treatments are lacking. Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology is a novel strategy to solve this problem. PROTAC technology uses the ubiquitin-protease system to eliminate mutated, denatured, and harmful proteins in cells. It can be reused, and utilizes the protein destruction mechanism of the cells, thus making up for the deficiencies of traditional protein degradation methods. It can effectively target and degrade proteins, including proteins that are difficult to identify and bind. Therefore, it has extremely important implications for drug development and the treatment of neurological diseases. At present, the targeted degradation of mutant BTK, mHTT, Tau, EGFR, and other proteins using PROTAC technology is gaining attention. It is expected that corresponding treatment of nervous system diseases can be achieved. This review first focuses on the recent developments in PROTAC technology in terms of protein degradation, drug production, and treatment of central nervous system diseases, and then discusses its limitations. This review will provide a brief overview of the recent application of PROTAC technology in the treatment of central nervous system diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Ma
- College of Life Science, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiao-Xiao Han
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Yang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Song-Lin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
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139
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Hu J, Wei J, Yim H, Wang L, Xie L, Jin MS, Kabir M, Qin L, Chen X, Liu J, Jin J. Potent and Selective Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2) Heterobifunctional Small-molecule Degraders. J Med Chem 2020; 63:15883-15905. [PMID: 33284613 PMCID: PMC7770057 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we reported a first-in-class von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)-recruiting mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases 1 and 2 (MEK1/2) degrader, MS432. To date, only two MEK1/2 degrader papers have been published and very limited structure-activity relationships (SAR) have been reported. Here, we describe our extensive SAR studies exploring both von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) and cereblon (CRBN) E3 ligase ligands and a variety of linkers, which resulted in two novel, improved VHL-recruiting MEK1/2 degraders, 24 (MS928) and 27 (MS934), and the first CRBN-recruiting MEK1/2 degrader 50 (MS910). These compounds potently and selectively degraded MEK1/2 by hijacking the ubiquitin-proteasome system, inhibited downstream signaling, and suppressed cancer cell proliferation. Furthermore, concurrent inhibition of BRAF or PI3K significantly potentiated the antitumor activity of degrader 27, suggesting that the combination of MEK1/2 degradation with BRAF or PI3K inhibition may provide potential therapeutic benefits. Finally, besides being more potent, degrader 27 displayed improved plasma exposure levels in mice, representing the best MEK1/2 degrader to date for in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianping Hu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Jieli Wei
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Hyerin Yim
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Ling Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Margaret S Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Md Kabir
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Lihuai Qin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Xian Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Jing Liu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
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140
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Nowak RP, Jones LH. Target Validation Using PROTACs: Applying the Four Pillars Framework. SLAS DISCOVERY 2020; 26:474-483. [PMID: 33334221 DOI: 10.1177/2472555220979584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are heterobifunctional compounds that recruit the E3 ubiquitin ligase machinery to proteins of interest, resulting in their ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Targeted protein degradation has generated considerable interest in drug discovery because inhibition of one particular function of a protein often does not deliver the therapeutic efficacy that results from whole-protein depletion. However, the physicochemistry and intrinsically complex pharmacology of PROTACs present challenges, particularly for the development of orally bioavailable drugs. Here we describe the application of a translational pharmacology framework (called the four pillars) to expedite PROTAC development by informing pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) understanding and helping elucidate structure-activity relationships. Experimental methods are reviewed that help illuminate exposure of the drug or probe at the site of action (pillar 1) and engagement of its target(s) (pillar 2) that drive functional pharmacological effects (pillar 3) resulting in modulation of a relevant phenotype (pillar 4). We hope the guidance will be useful to those developing targeted protein degraders and help establish PROTAC molecules as robust target validation chemical probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radosław P Nowak
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lyn H Jones
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
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141
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The Potential of Proteolytic Chimeras as Pharmacological Tools and Therapeutic Agents. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25245956. [PMID: 33339292 PMCID: PMC7766482 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25245956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The induction of protein degradation in a highly selective and efficient way by means of druggable molecules is known as targeted protein degradation (TPD). TPD emerged in the literature as a revolutionary idea: a heterobifunctional chimera with the capacity of creating an interaction between a protein of interest (POI) and a E3 ubiquitin ligase will induce a process of events in the POI, including ubiquitination, targeting to the proteasome, proteolysis and functional silencing, acting as a sort of degradative knockdown. With this programmed protein degradation, toxic and disease-causing proteins could be depleted from cells with potentially effective low drug doses. The proof-of-principle validation of this hypothesis in many studies has made the TPD strategy become a new attractive paradigm for the development of therapies for the treatment of multiple unmet diseases. Indeed, since the initial protacs (Proteolysis targeting chimeras) were posited in the 2000s, the TPD field has expanded extraordinarily, developing innovative chemistry and exploiting multiple degradation approaches. In this article, we review the breakthroughs and recent novel concepts in this highly active discipline.
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142
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Tomaselli D, Mautone N, Mai A, Rotili D. Recent advances in epigenetic proteolysis targeting chimeras (Epi-PROTACs). Eur J Med Chem 2020; 207:112750. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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143
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Liang Y, Nandakumar KS, Cheng K. Design and pharmaceutical applications of proteolysis-targeting chimeric molecules. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 182:114211. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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144
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Discovery of potent small molecule PROTACs targeting mutant EGFR. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 208:112781. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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145
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Scholz N, Kurian KM, Siebzehnrubl FA, Licchesi JDF. Targeting the Ubiquitin System in Glioblastoma. Front Oncol 2020; 10:574011. [PMID: 33324551 PMCID: PMC7724090 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.574011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common primary brain tumor in adults with poor overall outcome and 5-year survival of less than 5%. Treatment has not changed much in the last decade or so, with surgical resection and radio/chemotherapy being the main options. Glioblastoma is highly heterogeneous and frequently becomes treatment-resistant due to the ability of glioblastoma cells to adopt stem cell states facilitating tumor recurrence. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. The ubiquitin system, in particular E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes, have emerged as a promising source of novel drug targets. In addition to conventional small molecule drug discovery approaches aimed at modulating enzyme activity, several new and exciting strategies are also being explored. Among these, PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) aim to harness the endogenous protein turnover machinery to direct therapeutically relevant targets, including previously considered "undruggable" ones, for proteasomal degradation. PROTAC and other strategies targeting the ubiquitin proteasome system offer new therapeutic avenues which will expand the drug development toolboxes for glioblastoma. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes in the context of glioblastoma and their involvement in core signaling pathways including EGFR, TGF-β, p53 and stemness-related pathways. Finally, we offer new insights into how these ubiquitin-dependent mechanisms could be exploited therapeutically for glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Scholz
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Kathreena M. Kurian
- Brain Tumour Research Group, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Florian A. Siebzehnrubl
- Cardiff University School of Biosciences, European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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146
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PROTACs to address the challenges facing small molecule inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 210:112993. [PMID: 33189436 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Small molecule inhibitors of proteins represent important medicines and critical chemical tools to investigate the biology of the target proteins. Advances in various -omics technologies have fueled the pace of discovery of disease-relevant proteins. Translating these discoveries into human benefits requires us to develop specific chemicals to inhibit the proteins. However, traditional small molecule inhibitors binding to orthosteric or allosteric sites face significant challenges. These challenges include drug selectivity, therapy resistance as well as drugging undruggable proteins and multi-domain proteins. To address these challenges, PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera (PROTAC) has been proposed. PROTACs are heterobifunctional molecules containing a binding ligand for a protein of interest and E3 ligase-recruiting ligand that are connected through a chemical linker. Binding of a PROTAC to its target protein will bring a E3 ligase in close proximity to initiate polyubiquitination of the target protein ensuing its proteasome-mediated degradation. Unlike small molecule inhibitors, PROTACs achieve target protein degradation in its entirety in a catalytical fashion. In this review, we analyze recent advances in PROTAC design to discuss how PROTACs can address the challenges facing small molecule inhibitors to potentially deliver next-generation medicines and chemical tools with high selectivity and efficacy. We also offer our perspectives on the future promise and potential limitations facing PROTACs. Investigations to overcome these limitations of PROTACs will further help realize the promise of PROTACs for human benefits.
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147
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Zaidman D, Prilusky J, London N. PRosettaC: Rosetta Based Modeling of PROTAC Mediated Ternary Complexes. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:4894-4903. [PMID: 32976709 PMCID: PMC7592117 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c00589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which induce degradation by recruitment of an E3 ligase to a target protein, are gaining much interest as a new pharmacological modality. However, designing PROTACs is challenging. Formation of a ternary complex between the protein target, the PROTAC, and the recruited E3 ligase is considered paramount for successful degradation. A structural model of this ternary complex could in principle inform rational PROTAC design. Unfortunately, only a handful of structures are available for such complexes, necessitating tools for their modeling. We developed a combined protocol for the modeling of a ternary complex induced by a given PROTAC. Our protocol alternates between sampling of the protein-protein interaction space and the PROTAC molecule conformational space. Application of this protocol-PRosettaC-to a benchmark of known PROTAC ternary complexes results in near-native predictions, with often atomic accuracy prediction of the protein chains, as well as the PROTAC binding moieties. It allowed the modeling of a CRBN/BTK complex that recapitulated experimental results for a series of PROTACs. PRosettaC generated models may be used to design PROTACs for new targets, as well as improve PROTACs for existing targets, potentially cutting down time and synthesis efforts. To enable wide access to this protocol, we have made it available through a web server (https://prosettac.weizmann.ac.il/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Zaidman
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute
of Science, 76100, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jaime Prilusky
- Life
Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute
of Science, 76100, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Nir London
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute
of Science, 76100, Rehovot, Israel
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148
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Troup RI, Fallan C, Baud MGJ. Current strategies for the design of PROTAC linkers: a critical review. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2020; 1:273-312. [PMID: 36046485 PMCID: PMC9400730 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2020.00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are heterobifunctional molecules consisting of two ligands; an “anchor” to bind to an E3 ubiquitin ligase and a “warhead” to bind to a protein of interest, connected by a chemical linker. Targeted protein degradation by PROTACs has emerged as a new modality for the knock down of a range of proteins, with the first agents now reaching clinical evaluation. It has become increasingly clear that the length and composition of the linker play critical roles on the physicochemical properties and bioactivity of PROTACs. While linker design has historically received limited attention, the PROTAC field is evolving rapidly and currently undergoing an important shift from synthetically tractable alkyl and polyethylene glycol to more sophisticated functional linkers. This promises to unlock a wealth of novel PROTAC agents with enhanced bioactivity for therapeutic intervention. Here, the authors provide a timely overview of the diverse linker classes in the published literature, along with their underlying design principles and overall influence on the properties and bioactivity of the associated PROTACs. Finally, the authors provide a critical analysis of current strategies for PROTAC assembly. The authors highlight important limitations associated with the traditional “trial and error” approach around linker design and selection, and suggest potential future avenues to further inform rational linker design and accelerate the identification of optimised PROTACs. In particular, the authors believe that advances in computational and structural methods will play an essential role to gain a better understanding of the structure and dynamics of PROTAC ternary complexes, and will be essential to address the current gaps in knowledge associated with PROTAC design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert I. Troup
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK
| | - Charlene Fallan
- Medicinal Chemistry, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, CB4 0WG Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthias G. J. Baud
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK
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149
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Ros E, Prades A, Forson D, Smyth J, Verdaguer X, Pouplana LRD, Riera A. Synthesis of 3-alkyl-6-methyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazines via a Sonogashira-type cross-coupling reaction. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:11086-11089. [PMID: 32812558 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc03482g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
1,2,4,5-Tetrazines have become extremely useful tools in chemical biology. However, the synthesis of some challenging substrates such as asymmetrically disubstituted alkyltetrazines is still a limitation for the widespread use of this class of compounds. Herein we describe an efficient route to these compounds based on the Sonogashira coupling of 3-bromo-6-methyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine and 3-bromo-6-phenyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine with terminal alkynes. The preparation of the starting reagents has also been optimized. The alkynyl products have been used as intermediates for the synthesis of dialkyl-tetrazines through a sequence of hydrogenation and re-oxidation with unprecedented yields. The synthetic applicability of this new approach is showcased through the preparation of several unnatural amino acids bearing alkynyl- and alkyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine fragments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enric Ros
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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150
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Tomoshige S, Ishikawa M. PROTACs and Other Chemical Protein Degradation Technologies for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 60:3346-3354. [PMID: 32410219 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202004746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) are a group of diseases that cause neural cell damage, leading to motility and/or cognitive dysfunctions. One of the causative agents is misfolded protein aggregates, which are considered as undruggable in terms of conventional tools, such as inhibitors and agonists/antagonists. Indeed, there is currently no FDA-approved drug for the causal treatment of NDs. However, emerging technologies for chemical protein degradation are opening up the possibility of selective elimination of target proteins through physiological protein degradation machineries, which do not depend on the functions of the target proteins. Here, we review recent efforts towards the treatment of NDs using chemical protein degradation technologies, and we briefly discuss the challenges and prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shusuke Tomoshige
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Minoru Ishikawa
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
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