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Jiao F, Meng L, Du K, Li X. The autophagy-lysosome pathway: a potential target in the chemical and gene therapeutic strategies for Parkinson's disease. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:139-158. [PMID: 38767483 PMCID: PMC11246151 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-01195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease with movement disorders associated with the intracytoplasmic deposition of aggregate proteins such as α-synuclein in neurons. As one of the major intracellular degradation pathways, the autophagy-lysosome pathway plays an important role in eliminating these proteins. Accumulating evidence has shown that upregulation of the autophagy-lysosome pathway may contribute to the clearance of α-synuclein aggregates and protect against degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease. Moreover, multiple genes associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease are intimately linked to alterations in the autophagy-lysosome pathway. Thus, this pathway appears to be a promising therapeutic target for treatment of Parkinson's disease. In this review, we briefly introduce the machinery of autophagy. Then, we provide a description of the effects of Parkinson's disease-related genes on the autophagy-lysosome pathway. Finally, we highlight the potential chemical and genetic therapeutic strategies targeting the autophagy-lysosome pathway and their applications in Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengjuan Jiao
- School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Behavioral Interventions of Mental Disorders, Institute of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
| | - Lingyan Meng
- School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
| | - Kang Du
- School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xuezhi Li
- School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Behavioral Interventions of Mental Disorders, Institute of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
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2
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Wu Y, Wang A, Feng G, Pan X, Shuai W, Yang P, Zhang J, Ouyang L, Luo Y, Wang G. Autophagy modulation in cancer therapy: Challenges coexist with opportunities. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 276:116688. [PMID: 39033611 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Autophagy, a crucial intracellular degradation process facilitated by lysosomes, plays a pivotal role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. The elucidation of autophagy key genes and signaling pathways has significantly advanced our understanding of this process and has led to the exploration of autophagy as a promising therapeutic approach. This review comprehensively assesses the latest developments in small molecule modulators targeting autophagy. Moreover, the review delves into the most recent strategies for drug discovery, specifically focusing on selective agents that exploit autophagosomes and lysosomes for targeted protein degradation. Additionally, this article highlights the prevailing challenges and outlines potential future advancements in the field. By amalgamating the cutting-edge knowledge in the field, we aim to offer valuable insights and references for the anti-cancer drug development of autophagy-targeted therapies, thus contributing to the advancement of novel therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongya Wu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Aoxue Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Guotai Feng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaoli Pan
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Wen Shuai
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Panpan Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Liang Ouyang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yi Luo
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Guan Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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3
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Brodermann MH, Henderson EK, Sellar RS. The emerging role of targeted protein degradation to treat and study cancer. J Pathol 2024; 263:403-417. [PMID: 38886898 DOI: 10.1002/path.6301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The evolution of cancer treatment has provided increasingly targeted strategies both in the upfront and relapsed disease settings. Small-molecule inhibitors and immunotherapy have risen to prominence with chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, checkpoint inhibitors, kinase inhibitors, and monoclonal antibody therapies being deployed across a range of solid organ and haematological malignancies. However, novel approaches are required to target transcription factors and oncogenic fusion proteins that are central to cancer biology and have generally eluded successful drug development. Thalidomide analogues causing protein degradation have been a cornerstone of treatment in multiple myeloma, but a lack of in-depth mechanistic understanding initially limited progress in the field. When the protein cereblon (CRBN) was found to mediate thalidomide analogues' action and CRBN's neo-targets were identified, existing and novel drug development accelerated, with applications outside multiple myeloma, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, and acute leukaemias. Critically, transcription factors were the first canonical targets described. In addition to broadening the application of protein-degrading drugs, resistance mechanisms are being overcome and targeted protein degradation is widening the scope of druggable proteins against which existing approaches have been ineffective. Examples of targeted protein degraders include molecular glues and proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs): heterobifunctional molecules that bind to proteins of interest and cause proximity-induced ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation via a linked E3 ligase. Twenty years since their inception, PROTACs have begun progressing through clinical trials, with early success in targeting the oestrogen receptor and androgen receptor in breast and prostate cancer respectively. This review explores important developments in targeted protein degradation to both treat and study cancer. It also considers the potential advantages and challenges in the translational aspects of developing new treatments. © 2024 The Author(s). The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth K Henderson
- Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rob S Sellar
- Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
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4
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Zhang J, Pan X, Ji W, Zhou J. Autophagy mediated targeting degradation, a promising strategy in drug development. Bioorg Chem 2024; 149:107466. [PMID: 38843684 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/17/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) technologies have become promising therapeutic approaches through degrading disease-causing proteins via the protein degradation system. Autophagy is a fundamental biological process with a high relationship to protein degradation, which belongs to one of two main protein degradation pathways, the autophagy-lysosomal system. Recently, various autophagy-based TPD techniques ATTECs, AUTACs, and AUTOTACs, etc, have also been gradually developed, and they have achieved efficient degradation potency for the targeted protein, expanding the potential of degradation for large-size proteins or protein aggregates. Herein, we introduce the machinery of autophagy and its relation to protein degradation, and multiple methods for using autophagy to specifically degrade target proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiantao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, 688 Yingbin Road, Jinhua 321004, PR China
| | - Xiangyi Pan
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, 688 Yingbin Road, Jinhua 321004, PR China
| | - Wenshu Ji
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, 688 Yingbin Road, Jinhua 321004, PR China
| | - Jinming Zhou
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, 688 Yingbin Road, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
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5
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Reboud-Ravaux M. [Protein induced proximity and targeted degradations by new degraders: concepts, developments, challenges for clinical applications]. Biol Aujourdhui 2024; 218:41-54. [PMID: 39007776 DOI: 10.1051/jbio/2024007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The review is focused on recent drug discovery advances based on targeted protein degradation strategies. This new area of research has exploded leading to the development of potential drugs useful in a large variety of human diseases. They first target disease relevant proteins difficult to counteract with other classical strategies and extend now to aggregates, organelles, nucleic acids or lipidic droplets. These degraders engaged either the ubiquitin-proteasome system for PROTACs and molecular glues (first generation), or the lysosomal system via endosome-lysosome degradation (LYTACs) and autophagy-lysosome degradation (ATTEC, AUTAC, AUTOTAC) (following generations of degraders). PROTACs have expanded from the orthodox heterobifunctional ones to new derivatives such as homo-PROTACs, pro-PROTACs, CLIPTACs, HaloPROTACs, PHOTOTACs, Bac-PROTACs, AbTACs, ARN-PROTACs. The small molecular-weight molecular glues induce the formation of new ternary complexes which implicate the targeted protein and an ubiquitin ligase E3 allowing the protein ubiquinitation followed by its proteasomal degradation. Lysosomal degraders (LYTAC, ATTEC, AUTAC, AUTOTAC) specifically recognize extracellular and membrane proteins or dysfunctional organelles and transport them into lysosomes where they are degraded. They overcome the limitations observed with proteasomal degradations induced by PROTAC and molecular glues and demonstrate their potential to treat human diseases, especially neurodegenerative ones. Pharmaceutical companies are engaged at the world level to develop these new potential drugs targeting cancers, immuno-inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases as well as a variety of other ones. Efficiency and risks for these novel therapeutic strategies are discussed.
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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, France
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6
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Grigoreva TA, Novikova DS, Melino G, Barlev NA, Tribulovich VG. Ubiquitin recruiting chimera: more than just a PROTAC. Biol Direct 2024; 19:55. [PMID: 38978100 PMCID: PMC11232244 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-024-00497-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitinylation of protein substrates results in various but distinct biological consequences, among which ubiquitin-mediated degradation is most well studied for its therapeutic application. Accordingly, artificially targeted ubiquitin-dependent degradation of various proteins has evolved into the therapeutically relevant PROTAC technology. This tethered ubiquitinylation of various targets coupled with a broad assortment of modifying E3 ubiquitin ligases has been made possible by rational design of bi-specific chimeric molecules that bring these proteins in proximity. However, forced ubiquitinylation inflicted by the binary warheads of a chimeric PROTAC molecule should not necessarily result in protein degradation but can be used to modulate other cellular functions. In this respect it should be noted that the ubiquitinylation of a diverse set of proteins is known to control their transport, transcriptional activity, and protein-protein interactions. This review provides examples of potential PROTAC usage based on non-degradable ubiquitinylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana A Grigoreva
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, St. Petersburg State Institute of Technology (Technical University), St. Petersburg, 190013, Russia.
| | - Daria S Novikova
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, St. Petersburg State Institute of Technology (Technical University), St. Petersburg, 190013, Russia
| | - Gerry Melino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - Nick A Barlev
- Institute of Cytology RAS, Saint-Petersburg, 194064, Russia
- Department of Biomedical Studies, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Vyacheslav G Tribulovich
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, St. Petersburg State Institute of Technology (Technical University), St. Petersburg, 190013, Russia.
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Yu X, Hu W, Dong H, Zhao T, Wang X, Chen L, Xue S, Li JP, Luo SZ. Phase Separation Enhanced PROTAC for Highly Efficient Protein Degradation. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:4374-4383. [PMID: 38825770 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Biomacromolecular condensates formed via phase separation establish compartments for the enrichment of specific compositions, which is also used as a biological tool to enhance molecule condensation, thereby increasing the efficiency of biological processes. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have been developed as powerful tools for targeted protein degradation in cells, offering a promising approach for therapies for different diseases. Herein, we introduce an intrinsically disordered region in the PROTAC (denoted PSETAC), which led to the formation of droplets of target proteins in the cells and increased degradation efficiency compared with PROTAC without phase separation. Further, using a nucleus targeting intrinsically disordered domain, the PSETAC was able to target and degrade nuclear-located proteins. Finally, we demonstrated intracellular delivery of PSETAC using lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA (mRNA-LNP) for the degradation of the endogenous target protein. This study established the PSETAC mRNA-LNP method as a potentially translatable, safe therapeutic strategy for the development of clinical applications based on PROTAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Wenrui Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Hang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Tian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xiaotian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Long Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Song Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jin-Ping Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Uppsala, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Shi-Zhong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
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Zhang S, Nie S, Ma G, Shen M, Kong L, Zuo Z, Li Y. Identification of novel GSPT1 degraders by virtual screening and bioassay. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 273:116524. [PMID: 38795517 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
GSPT1 plays crucial physiological functions, such as terminating protein translation, overexpressed in various tumors. It is a promising anti-tumor target, but is also considered as an "undruggable" protein. Recent studies have found that a class of small molecules can degrade GSPT1 through the "molecular glue" mechanism with strong antitumor activity, which is expected to become a new therapy for hematological malignancies. Currently available GSPT1 degraders are mostly derived from the scaffold of immunomodulatory imide drug (IMiD), thus more active compounds with novel structure remain to be found. In this work, using computer-assisted multi-round virtual screening and bioassay, we identified a non-IMiD acylhydrazone compound, AN5782, which can reduce the protein level of GPST1 and obviously inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells. Some analogs were obtained by a substructure search of AN5782. The structure-activity relationship analysis revealed possible interactions between these compounds and CRBN-GSPT1. Further biological mechanistic studies showed that AN5777 decreased GSPT1 remarkably through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and its effective cytotoxicity was CRBN- and GSPT1-dependent. Furthermore, AN5777 displayed good antiproliferative activities against U937 and OCI-AML-2 cells, and dose-dependently induced G1 phase arrest and apoptosis. The structure found in this work could be good start for antitumor drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Natural Medicines, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Shiyun Nie
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Research and Development for Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Guangchao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Research and Development for Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Meiling Shen
- Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Natural Medicines, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lingmei Kong
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Research and Development for Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Zhili Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Natural Medicines, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Yan Li
- Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Natural Medicines, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China; Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Research and Development for Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China.
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Luo J, Gao Q, Tan K, Zhang S, Shi W, Luo L, Li Z, Khedr GE, Chen J, Xu Y, Luo M, Xing Q, Geng J. Lysosome Targeting Chimaeras for Glut1-Facilitated Targeted Protein Degradation. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:17728-17737. [PMID: 38899504 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c02463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation technology holds great potential in biomedicine, particularly in treating tumors and other protein-related diseases. Research on intracellular protein degradation using molecular glues and PROTAC technology is leading, while research on the degradation of membrane proteins and extracellular proteins through the lysosomal pathway is still in the preclinical stage. The scarcity of useful targets is an immense limitation to technological advancement, making it essential to explore novel, potentially effective approaches for targeted lysosomal degradation. Here, we employed the glucose transporter Glut1 as an innovative lysosome-targeting receptor and devised the Glut1-Facilitated Lysosomal Degradation (GFLD) strategy. We synthesized potential Glut1 ligands via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and acquired antibody-glycooligomer conjugates through bioorthogonal reactions as lysosome-targeting protein degradation molecules, utilized in the management of PD-L1 high-expressing triple-negative breast cancer. The glucose transporter Glut1 as a lysosome-targeting receptor exhibits potential for the advancement of a broader array of medications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyan Luo
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Quan Gao
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Kui Tan
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Shiling Zhang
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Weiwei Shi
- Department of Chemical Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Lei Luo
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhiying Li
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Ghada E Khedr
- Department of Analysis and Evaluation, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Cairo 11727, Egypt
| | - Jie Chen
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Youwei Xu
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Ming Luo
- Polariton Life, Suzhou 215004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qi Xing
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Jin Geng
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
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10
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Chang X, Qu F, Li C, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Xie Y, Fan Z, Bian J, Wang J, Li Z, Xu X. Development and therapeutic potential of GSPT1 molecular glue degraders: A medicinal chemistry perspective. Med Res Rev 2024; 44:1727-1767. [PMID: 38314926 DOI: 10.1002/med.22024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Unprecedented therapeutic targeting of previously undruggable proteins has now been achieved by molecular-glue-mediated proximity-induced degradation. As a small GTPase, G1 to S phase transition 1 (GSPT1) interacts with eRF1, the translation termination factor, to facilitate the process of translation termination. Studied demonstrated that GSPT1 plays a vital role in the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and MYC-driven lung cancer. Thus, molecular glue (MG) degraders targeting GSPT1 is a novel and promising approach for treating AML and MYC-driven cancers. In this Perspective, we briefly summarize the structural and functional aspects of GSPT1, highlighting the latest advances and challenges in MG degraders, as well as some representative patents. The structure-activity relationships, mechanism of action and pharmacokinetic features of MG degraders are emphasized to provide a comprehensive compendium on the rational design of GSPT1 MG degraders. We hope to provide an updated overview, and design guide for strategies targeting GSPT1 for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujin Chang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fangui Qu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunxiao Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingtian Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanqing Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xie
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhongpeng Fan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinlei Bian
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jubo Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiyu Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xi Xu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
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11
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Wang Y, Yang L, Yan C, Du Y, Li T, Yang W, Lei L, He B, Gao H, Peppas NA, Cao J. Supramolecular artificial Nano-AUTACs enable tumor-specific metabolism protein degradation for synergistic immunotherapy. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn8079. [PMID: 38905336 PMCID: PMC11192078 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn8079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Autophagy-targeting chimera (AUTAC) has emerged as a powerful modality that can selectively degrade tumor-related pathogenic proteins, but its low bioavailability and nonspecific distribution significantly restrict their therapeutic efficacy. Inspired by the guanine structure of AUTAC molecules, we here report supramolecular artificial Nano-AUTACs (GM NPs) engineered by AUTAC molecule GN [an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) degrader] and nucleoside analog methotrexate (MTX) through supramolecular interactions for tumor-specific protein degradation. Their nanostructures allow for precise localization and delivery into cancer cells, where the intracellular acidic environment can disrupt the supramolecular interactions to release MTX for eradicating tumor cells, modulating tumor-associated macrophages, activating dendritic cells, and inducing autophagy. Specifically, the induced autophagy facilitates the released GN for degrading immunosuppressive IDO to further enhance effector T cell activity and inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. This study offers a unique strategy for building a nanoplatform to advance the field of AUTAC in tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazhen Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China
| | - Lianyi Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China
| | - Chenxing Yan
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Yufan Du
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Tinghua Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China
| | - Wenqing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Lei Lei
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China
| | - Bin He
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China
| | - Huile Gao
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Nicholas A. Peppas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jun Cao
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China
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12
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Zhang C, Liu Y, Li G, Yang Z, Han C, Sun X, Sheng C, Ding K, Rao Y. Targeting the undruggables-the power of protein degraders. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2024; 69:1776-1797. [PMID: 38614856 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2024.03.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Undruggable targets typically refer to a class of therapeutic targets that are difficult to target through conventional methods or have not yet been targeted, but are of great clinical significance. According to statistics, over 80% of disease-related pathogenic proteins cannot be targeted by current conventional treatment methods. In recent years, with the advancement of basic research and new technologies, the development of various new technologies and mechanisms has brought new perspectives to overcome challenging drug targets. Among them, targeted protein degradation technology is a breakthrough drug development strategy for challenging drug targets. This technology can specifically identify target proteins and directly degrade pathogenic target proteins by utilizing the inherent protein degradation pathways within cells. This new form of drug development includes various types such as proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC), molecular glue, lysosome-targeting Chimaera (LYTAC), autophagosome-tethering compound (ATTEC), autophagy-targeting chimera (AUTAC), autophagy-targeting chimera (AUTOTAC), degrader-antibody conjugate (DAC). This article systematically summarizes the application of targeted protein degradation technology in the development of degraders for challenging drug targets. Finally, the article looks forward to the future development direction and application prospects of targeted protein degradation technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhang
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yongbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Guangchen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhouli Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Chi Han
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiuyun Sun
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Chunquan Sheng
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Ke Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Yu Rao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China.
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13
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Huang X, Wu F, Ye J, Wang L, Wang X, Li X, He G. Expanding the horizons of targeted protein degradation: A non-small molecule perspective. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:2402-2427. [PMID: 38828146 PMCID: PMC11143490 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) represented by proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) marks a significant stride in drug discovery. A plethora of innovative technologies inspired by PROTAC have not only revolutionized the landscape of TPD but have the potential to unlock functionalities beyond degradation. Non-small-molecule-based approaches play an irreplaceable role in this field. A wide variety of agents spanning a broad chemical spectrum, including peptides, nucleic acids, antibodies, and even vaccines, which not only prove instrumental in overcoming the constraints of conventional small molecule entities but also provided rapidly renewing paradigms. Herein we summarize the burgeoning non-small molecule technological platforms inspired by PROTACs, including three major trajectories, to provide insights for the design strategies based on novel paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Huang
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Dermatology & Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Fengbo Wu
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Dermatology & Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jing Ye
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Dermatology & Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Laboratory of Dermatology, Clinical Institute of Inflammation and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lian Wang
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Dermatology & Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiaoyun Wang
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Dermatology & Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Laboratory of Dermatology, Clinical Institute of Inflammation and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Gu He
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Dermatology & Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Laboratory of Dermatology, Clinical Institute of Inflammation and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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14
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Haridas V, Dutta S, Munjal A, Singh S. Inhibitors to degraders: Changing paradigm in drug discovery. iScience 2024; 27:109574. [PMID: 38646175 PMCID: PMC11031827 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The chemical understanding of biological processes provides not only a deeper insight but also a solution to abnormal biological functioning. Protein degradation, a natural biological process for debris removal in the cell, has been studied for years. The recent finding that natural degradation pathways can be utilized for therapeutic purposes is a paradigm shift in the drug discovery approach. Methods such as Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC), lysosomal targeting chimera, hydrophobic tagging, AUtophagy TArgeting Chimera, AUTOphagy TArgeting Chimera and several other variants of these methods have made a considerable impact on the way of drug design. Few selected examples testify that a huge wave of change is on the way. The drug design based on the targeted protein degradation is a powerful tool in our arsenal. More molecules will be invented that will uncover the hidden secrets of biological functioning and provide enduring solutions to several unmet medical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Haridas
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad, Palakkad, Kerala 678623, India
| | - Souvik Dutta
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Akshay Munjal
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Shailja Singh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, New Delhi 110067, India
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15
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Wang J, Wang Y, Yang F, Luo Q, Hou Z, Xing Y, Lu F, Li Z, Yin F. A Novel Lysosome Targeting Chimera for Targeted Protein Degradation via Split-and-Mix Strategy. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:1161-1168. [PMID: 38662199 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation is becoming more and more important in the field of drug development. Compared with proteasomal-based degraders, lysosomal-based degraders have a broader target spectrum of targets, which have been demonstrated to have great potential, especially in degrading undruggable proteins. Recently, we developed a programmable and facile screening PROTAC development platform based on peptide self-assembly termed split-and-mix PROTAC (SM-PROTAC). In this study, we applied this technology for the development of lysosome-based degraders, named a split-and-mix chaperone-mediated autophagy-based degrader (SM-CMAD). We successfully demonstrated SM-CMAD as a universal platform by degrading several targets, including ERα, AR, MEK1/2, and BCR-ABL. Different from other lysosomal-based degraders, SM-CMAD was capable of facile screening with programmable ligand ratios. We believe that our work will promote the development of other multifunctional molecules and clinical translation for lysosomal-based degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuechen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | | | - Qinhong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Zhanfeng Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yun Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Fei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zigang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Pingshan Translational Medicine Center, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518118, China
| | - Feng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Pingshan Translational Medicine Center, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518118, China
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16
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Won HI, Zinga S, Kandror O, Akopian T, Wolf ID, Schweber JTP, Schmid EW, Chao MC, Waldor M, Rubin EJ, Zhu J. Targeted protein degradation in mycobacteria uncovers antibacterial effects and potentiates antibiotic efficacy. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4065. [PMID: 38744895 PMCID: PMC11094019 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48506-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) represent a new therapeutic modality involving selectively directing disease-causing proteins for degradation through proteolytic systems. Our ability to exploit targeted protein degradation (TPD) for antibiotic development remains nascent due to our limited understanding of which bacterial proteins are amenable to a TPD strategy. Here, we use a genetic system to model chemically-induced proximity and degradation to screen essential proteins in Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msm), a model for the human pathogen M. tuberculosis (Mtb). By integrating experimental screening of 72 protein candidates and machine learning, we find that drug-induced proximity to the bacterial ClpC1P1P2 proteolytic complex leads to the degradation of many endogenous proteins, especially those with disordered termini. Additionally, TPD of essential Msm proteins inhibits bacterial growth and potentiates the effects of existing antimicrobial compounds. Together, our results provide biological principles to select and evaluate attractive targets for future Mtb PROTAC development, as both standalone antibiotics and potentiators of existing antibiotic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harim I Won
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Samuel Zinga
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Olga Kandror
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Tatos Akopian
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ian D Wolf
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jessica T P Schweber
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ernst W Schmid
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Blavatnik Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael C Chao
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Maya Waldor
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Eric J Rubin
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Junhao Zhu
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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17
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Hu M, Ladowski JM, Xu H. The Role of Autophagy in Vascular Endothelial Cell Health and Physiology. Cells 2024; 13:825. [PMID: 38786047 PMCID: PMC11120581 DOI: 10.3390/cells13100825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a highly conserved cellular recycling process which enables eukaryotes to maintain both cellular and overall homeostasis through the catabolic breakdown of intracellular components or the selective degradation of damaged organelles. In recent years, the importance of autophagy in vascular endothelial cells (ECs) has been increasingly recognized, and numerous studies have linked the dysregulation of autophagy to the development of endothelial dysfunction and vascular disease. Here, we provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying autophagy in ECs and our current understanding of the roles of autophagy in vascular biology and review the implications of dysregulated autophagy for vascular disease. Finally, we summarize the current state of the research on compounds to modulate autophagy in ECs and identify challenges for their translation into clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph M. Ladowski
- Transplant and Immunobiology Research, Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - He Xu
- Transplant and Immunobiology Research, Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
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18
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Li L, Liu S, Luo Y. Application of covalent modality in proximity-induced drug pharmacology: Early development, current strategy, and feature directions. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 271:116394. [PMID: 38643668 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
With a growing number of covalent drugs securing FDA approval as successful therapies across various indications, particularly in the realm of cancer treatment, the covalent modulating strategy is undergoing a resurgence. The renewed interest in covalent bioactive compounds has captured significant attention from both the academic and biopharmaceutical industry sectors. Covalent chemistry presents several advantages over traditional noncovalent proximity-induced drugs, including heightened potency, reduced molecular size, and the ability to target "undruggable" entities. Within this perspective, we have compiled a comprehensive overview of current covalent modalities applied to proximity-induced molecules, delving into their advantages and drawbacks. Our aim is to stimulate more profound insights and ideas within the scientific community, guiding future research endeavors in this dynamic field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Song Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Youfu Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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19
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Wang Y, Wei T, Zhao M, Huang A, Sun F, Chen L, Lin R, Xie Y, Zhang M, Xu S, Sun Z, Hong L, Wang R, Tian R, Li G. Alkenyl oxindole is a novel PROTAC moiety that recruits the CRL4DCAF11 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex for targeted protein degradation. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002550. [PMID: 38768083 PMCID: PMC11104598 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Alkenyl oxindoles have been characterized as autophagosome-tethering compounds (ATTECs), which can target mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) for lysosomal degradation. In order to expand the application of alkenyl oxindoles for targeted protein degradation, we designed and synthesized a series of heterobifunctional compounds by conjugating different alkenyl oxindoles with bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) inhibitor JQ1. Through structure-activity relationship study, we successfully developed JQ1-alkenyl oxindole conjugates that potently degrade BRD4. Unexpectedly, we found that these molecules degrade BRD4 through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, rather than the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. Using pooled CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screening, we revealed that JQ1-alkenyl oxindole conjugates recruit the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex CRL4DCAF11 for substrate degradation. Furthermore, we validated the most potent heterobifunctional molecule HL435 as a promising drug-like lead compound to exert antitumor activity both in vitro and in a mouse xenograft tumor model. Our research provides new employable proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) moieties for targeted protein degradation, providing new possibilities for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tianzi Wei
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Department of Medical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Man Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Aima Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fan Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Risheng Lin
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Department of Medical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yubao Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shiyu Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhihui Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Hong
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Materia Medica and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ruilin Tian
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Department of Medical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guofeng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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20
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Chen Y, Xue H, Jin J. Applications of protein ubiquitylation and deubiquitylation in drug discovery. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107264. [PMID: 38582446 PMCID: PMC11087986 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system (UPS) is the major machinery mediating specific protein turnover in eukaryotic cells. By ubiquitylating unwanted, damaged, or harmful proteins and driving their degradation, UPS is involved in many important cellular processes. Several new UPS-based technologies, including molecular glue degraders and PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) to promote protein degradation, and DUBTACs (deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras) to increase protein stability, have been developed. By specifically inducing the interactions between different Ub ligases and targeted proteins that are not otherwise related, molecular glue degraders and PROTACs degrade targeted proteins via the UPS; in contrast, by inducing the proximity of targeted proteins to deubiquitinases, DUBTACs are created to clear degradable poly-Ub chains to stabilize targeted proteins. In this review, we summarize the recent research progress in molecular glue degraders, PROTACs, and DUBTACs and their applications. We discuss immunomodulatory drugs, sulfonamides, cyclin-dependent kinase-targeting molecular glue degraders, and new development of PROTACs. We also introduce the principle of DUBTAC and its applications. Finally, we propose a few future directions of these three technologies related to targeted protein homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Chen
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haoan Xue
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Center for Life Sciences, Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Jianping Jin
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Center for Life Sciences, Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Shaoxing, China; Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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21
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Zhang R, Xie S, Ran J, Li T. Restraining the power of Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras in the cage: A necessary and important refinement for therapeutic safety. J Cell Physiol 2024; 239:e31255. [PMID: 38501341 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) represent a significant advancement in therapeutic drug development by leveraging the ubiquitin-proteasome system to enable targeted protein degradation, particularly impacting oncology. This review delves into the various types of PROTACs, such as peptide-based, nucleic acid-based, and small molecule PROTACs, each addressing distinct challenges in protein degradation. It also discusses innovative strategies like bridged PROTACs and conditional switch-activated PROTACs, offering precise targeting of previously "undruggable" proteins. The potential of PROTACs extends beyond oncology, with ongoing research and technological advancements needed to maximize their therapeutic potential. Future progress in this field relies on interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of advanced computational tools to open new treatment avenues across various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renshuai Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, Center for Cell Structure and Function, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Songbo Xie
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, Center for Cell Structure and Function, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Jie Ran
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, Center for Cell Structure and Function, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Te Li
- Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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22
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Jia W, Li W, Li Z, Li P. An all-in-one targeted protein degradation platform guided by degradation condensates-bridging bi-specific nanobodies. Cell Res 2024; 34:389-392. [PMID: 38443563 PMCID: PMC11061270 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-024-00942-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Wen Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Weijie Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Centre for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zengpeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Centre for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
| | - Pilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China.
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23
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Su J, Xiao Y, Wei L, Lei H, Sun F, Wang W, Yin J, Xiong R, Li S, Zhang P, Zhou Y, Wang X, Zheng J, Wang JZ. Generation of tau dephosphorylation-targeting chimeras for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2024; 69:1137-1152. [PMID: 38341350 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2024.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal hyperphosphorylation and accumulation of tau protein play a pivotal role in neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and many other tauopathies. Selective elimination of hyperphosphorylated tau is promising for the therapy of these diseases. We have conceptualized a strategy, named dephosphorylation-targeting chimeras (DEPTACs), for specifically hijacking phosphatases to tau to debilitate its hyperphosphorylation. Here, we conducted the step-by-step optimization of each constituent motif to generate DEPTACs with reasonable effectiveness in facilitating the dephosphorylation and subsequent clearance of pathological tau. Specifically, for one of the selected chimeras, D16, we demonstrated its significant efficiency in rescuing the neurodegeneration caused by neurotoxic K18-tau seeds in vitro. Moreover, intravenous administration of D16 also alleviated tau pathologies in the brain and improved memory deficits in AD mice. These results suggested DEPTACs as targeted modulators of tau phosphorylation, which hold therapeutic potential for AD and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingfen Su
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yue Xiao
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; School of Artificial Intelligence and Automation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Linyu Wei
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Sino-UK Joint Laboratory of Brain Function and Injury of Henan Province, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Huiyang Lei
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Weixia Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jun Yin
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Rui Xiong
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shihong Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Pei Zhang
- The Core Facility and Technical Support, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ying Zhou
- Research Center for Medicine and Structural Biology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xiaochuan Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; School of Artificial Intelligence and Automation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Jie Zheng
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Jian-Zhi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226000, China.
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24
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Tsai JM, Nowak RP, Ebert BL, Fischer ES. Targeted protein degradation: from mechanisms to clinic. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024:10.1038/s41580-024-00729-9. [PMID: 38684868 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00729-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation refers to the use of small molecules to induce the selective degradation of proteins. In its most common form, this degradation is achieved through ligand-mediated neo-interactions between ubiquitin E3 ligases - the principal waste disposal machines of a cell - and the protein targets of interest, resulting in ubiquitylation and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Notable advances have been made in biological and mechanistic understanding of serendipitously discovered degraders. This improved understanding and novel chemistry has not only provided clinical proof of concept for targeted protein degradation but has also led to rapid growth of the field, with dozens of investigational drugs in active clinical trials. Two distinct classes of protein degradation therapeutics are being widely explored: bifunctional PROTACs and molecular glue degraders, both of which have their unique advantages and challenges. Here, we review the current landscape of targeted protein degradation approaches and how they have parallels in biological processes. We also outline the ongoing clinical exploration of novel degraders and provide some perspectives on the directions the field might take.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Tsai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Radosław P Nowak
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute of Structural Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Benjamin L Ebert
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Eric S Fischer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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25
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Ito T. Protein degraders - from thalidomide to new PROTACs. J Biochem 2024; 175:507-519. [PMID: 38140952 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvad113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, the development of protein degraders (protein-degrading compounds) has prominently progressed. There are two remarkable classes of protein degraders: proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and molecular glue degraders (MGDs). Almost 70 years have passed since thalidomide was initially developed as a sedative-hypnotic drug, which is currently recognized as one of the most well-known MGDs. During the last two decades, a myriad of PROTACs and MGDs have been developed, and the molecular mechanism of action (MOA) of thalidomide was basically elucidated, including identifying its molecular target cereblon (CRBN). CRBN forms a Cullin Ring Ligase 4 with Cul4 and DDB1, whose substrate specificity is controlled by its binding ligands. Thalidomide, lenalidomide and pomalidomide, three CRBN-binding MGDs, were clinically approved to treat several intractable diseases (including multiple myeloma). Several other MGDs and CRBN-based PROTACs (ARV-110 and AVR-471) are undergoing clinical trials. In addition, several new related technologies regarding PROTACs and MGDs have also been developed, and achievements of protein degraders impact not only therapeutic fields but also basic biological science. In this article, I introduce the history of protein degraders, from the development of thalidomide to the latest PROTACs and related technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Ito
- Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
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26
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Zhu Z, Li J, Shen S, Al-Furas H, Li S, Tong Y, Li Y, Zeng Y, Feng Q, Chen K, Ma N, Zhou F, Zhang Z, Li Z, Pang J, Ding K, Xu F. Targeting EGFR degradation by autophagosome degraders. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 270:116345. [PMID: 38564826 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Several generations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been developed for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in clinic. However, emerging drug resistance mediated by new EGFR mutations or activations by pass, leads to malignant progression of NSCLC. Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have been utilized to overcome the drug resistance acquired by mutant EGFR, newly potent and selective degraders are still need to be developed for clinical applications. Herein, we developed autophagosome-tethering compounds (ATTECs) in which EGFR can be anchored to microtubule-associated protein-1 light chain-3B (LC3B) on the autophagosome with the assistance of the LC3 ligand GW5074. A series of EGFR-ATTECs have been designed and synthesized. Biological evaluations showed that these compounds could degrade EGFR and exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on certain NSCLC cell lines. The ATTEC 12c potently induced the degradation of EGFR with a DC50 value of 0.98 μM and a Dmax value of 81% in HCC827 cells. Mechanistic exploration revealed that the lysosomal pathway was mainly involved in this degradation. Compound 12c also exhibited promising inhibitory activity, as well as degradation efficiency in vivo. Our study highlights that EGFR-ATTECs could be developed as a new expandable EGFR degradation tool and also reveals a novel potential therapeutic strategy to prevent drug resistance acquired EGFR mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- ZhongFeng Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jiaying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Shujun Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Hawaa Al-Furas
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Shengrong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yichen Tong
- School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yucheng Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Qianyi Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Kaiyue Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Nan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Fengtao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Zhang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Zhengqiu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jiyan Pang
- School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Ke Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Fang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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27
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Liu J, Hu X, Luo K, Xiong Y, Chen L, Wang Z, Inuzuka H, Qian C, Yu X, Xie L, Muneer A, Zhang D, Paulo JA, Chen X, Jin J, Wei W. USP7-Based Deubiquitinase-Targeting Chimeras Stabilize AMPK. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 38597345 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c02373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras (DUBTACs) have been recently developed to stabilize proteins of interest, which is in contrast to targeted protein degradation (TPD) approaches that degrade disease-causing proteins. However, to date, only the OTUB1 deubiquitinase has been utilized to develop DUBTACs via an OTUB1 covalent ligand, which could unexpectedly compromise the endogenous function of OTUB1 owing to its covalent nature. Here, we show for the first time that deubiquitinase USP7 can be harnessed for DUBTAC development. Based on a noncovalent ligand of USP7, we developed USP7-based DUBTACs that stabilized the ΔF508-CFTR mutant protein as effectively as the previously reported OTUB1-based DUBTAC. Importantly, using two different noncovalent ligands of USP7, we developed the first AMPK DUBTACs that appear to selectively stabilize different isoforms of AMPKβ, leading to elevated AMPK signaling. Overall, these results highlight that, in addition to OTUB1, USP7 can be leveraged to develop DUBTACs, thus significantly expanding the limited toolbox for targeted protein stabilization and the development of novel AMPK DUBTACs as potential therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Xiaoping Hu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Kaixiu Luo
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Yan Xiong
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Hiroyuki Inuzuka
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Chao Qian
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Xufen Yu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Ling Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Adil Muneer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Dingpeng Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Joao A Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Xian Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Wenyi Wei
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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28
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Kim J, Byun I, Kim DY, Joh H, Kim HJ, Lee MJ. Targeted protein degradation directly engaging lysosomes or proteasomes. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:3253-3272. [PMID: 38369971 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00344b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) has been established as a viable alternative to attenuate the function of a specific protein of interest in both biological and clinical contexts. The unique TPD mode-of-action has allowed previously undruggable proteins to become feasible targets, expanding the landscape of "druggable" properties and "privileged" target proteins. As TPD continues to evolve, a range of innovative strategies, which do not depend on recruiting E3 ubiquitin ligases as in proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), have emerged. Here, we present an overview of direct lysosome- and proteasome-engaging modalities and discuss their perspectives, advantages, and limitations. We outline the chemical composition, biochemical activity, and pharmaceutical characteristics of each degrader. These alternative TPD approaches not only complement the first generation of PROTACs for intracellular protein degradation but also offer unique strategies for targeting pathologic proteins located on the cell membrane and in the extracellular space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiseong Kim
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University Graduate School, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Insuk Byun
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University Graduate School, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Do Young Kim
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea.
| | - Hyunhi Joh
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea.
| | - Hak Joong Kim
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea.
| | - Min Jae Lee
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University Graduate School, Seoul 03080, Korea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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29
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Miao J, Zhang ZY. Drugging Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases through Targeted Protein Degradation. ChemMedChem 2024; 19:e202300669. [PMID: 38233347 PMCID: PMC11021144 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are an important class of enzymes that regulate protein tyrosine phosphorylation levels of a large variety of proteins in cells. Anomalies in protein tyrosine phosphorylation have been associated with the development of numerous human diseases, leading to a heightened interest in PTPs as promising targets for drug development. However, therapeutic targeting of PTPs has faced skepticism about their druggability. Besides the conventional small molecule inhibitors, proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology offers an alternative approach to target PTPs. PROTAC molecules utilize the ubiquitin-proteasome system to degrade specific proteins and have unique advantages compared with inhibitors: 1) PROTACs are highly efficient and can work at much lower concentrations than that expected based on their biophysical binding affinity; 2) PROTACs may achieve higher selectivity for the targeted protein than that dictated by their binding affinity alone; and 3) PROTACs may engage any region of the target protein in addition to the functional site. This review focuses on the latest advancement in the development of targeted PTP degraders and deliberates on the obstacles and prospective paths of harnessing this technology for therapeutic targeting of the PTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinmin Miao
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, 720 Clinic Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Zhong-Yin Zhang
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, 720 Clinic Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Department of Chemistry, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, 201 S. University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, 720 Clinic Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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30
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Poirson J, Cho H, Dhillon A, Haider S, Imrit AZ, Lam MHY, Alerasool N, Lacoste J, Mizan L, Wong C, Gingras AC, Schramek D, Taipale M. Proteome-scale discovery of protein degradation and stabilization effectors. Nature 2024; 628:878-886. [PMID: 38509365 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07224-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation and stabilization are promising therapeutic modalities because of their potency, versatility and their potential to expand the druggable target space1,2. However, only a few of the hundreds of E3 ligases and deubiquitinases in the human proteome have been harnessed for this purpose, which substantially limits the potential of the approach. Moreover, there may be other protein classes that could be exploited for protein stabilization or degradation3-5, but there are currently no methods that can identify such effector proteins in a scalable and unbiased manner. Here we established a synthetic proteome-scale platform to functionally identify human proteins that can promote the degradation or stabilization of a target protein in a proximity-dependent manner. Our results reveal that the human proteome contains a large cache of effectors of protein stability. The approach further enabled us to comprehensively compare the activities of human E3 ligases and deubiquitinases, identify and characterize non-canonical protein degraders and stabilizers and establish that effectors have vastly different activities against diverse targets. Notably, the top degraders were more potent against multiple therapeutically relevant targets than the currently used E3 ligases cereblon and VHL. Our study provides a functional catalogue of stability effectors for targeted protein degradation and stabilization and highlights the potential of induced proximity screens for the discovery of new proximity-dependent protein modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juline Poirson
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hanna Cho
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Akashdeep Dhillon
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shahan Haider
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ahmad Zoheyr Imrit
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mandy Hiu Yi Lam
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nader Alerasool
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessica Lacoste
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lamisa Mizan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cassandra Wong
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anne-Claude Gingras
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Schramek
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mikko Taipale
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Liang H, Ma Z, Zhong W, Liu J, Sugimoto K, Chen H. Regulation of mitophagy and mitochondrial function: Natural compounds as potential therapeutic strategies for Parkinson's disease. Phytother Res 2024; 38:1838-1862. [PMID: 38356178 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Mitochondrial damage is associated with the development of Parkinson's disease (PD), indicating that mitochondrial-targeted treatments could hold promise as disease-modifying approaches for PD. Notably, natural compounds have demonstrated the ability to modulate mitochondrial-related processes. In this review article, we discussed the possible neuroprotective mechanisms of natural compounds against PD in modulating mitophagy and mitochondrial function. A comprehensive literature search on natural compounds related to the treatment of PD by regulating mitophagy and mitochondrial function was conducted from PubMed, Web of Science and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases from their inception until April 2023. We summarize recent advancements in mitophagy's molecular mechanisms, including upstream and downstream processes, and its relationship with PD-related genes or proteins. Importantly, we highlight how natural compounds can therapeutically regulate various mitochondrial processes through multiple targets and pathways to alleviate oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, Lewy's body aggregation and apoptosis, which are key contributors to PD pathogenesis. Unlike the single-target strategy of modern medicine, natural compounds provide neuroprotection against PD by modulating various mitochondrial-related processes, including ameliorating mitophagy by targeting the PINK1/parkin pathway, the NIX/BNIP3 pathway, and autophagosome formation (i.e., LC3 and p62). Given the prevalence of mitochondrial damage in various neurodegenerative diseases, exploring the exact mechanism of natural compounds on mitophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction could shed light on the development of highly effective disease-modifying or adjuvant therapies targeting PD and other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Liang
- Department of Acupuncture, Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Zhenwang Ma
- Department of Acupuncture, Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Zhong
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Qiqihar Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Neurology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Kazuo Sugimoto
- Department of Neurology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Acupuncture, Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- Department of TCM Geriatric, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Lemaitre T, Cornu M, Schwalen F, Since M, Kieffer C, Voisin-Chiret AS. Molecular glue degraders: exciting opportunities for novel drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:433-449. [PMID: 38240114 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2306845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Molecular Glue Degraders (MGDs) is a concept that refers to a class of compounds that facilitate the interaction between two proteins or molecules within a cell. These compounds act as bridge that enhances specific Protein-Protein Interactions (PPIs). Over the past decade, this technology has gained attention as a potential strategy to target proteins that were traditionally considered undruggable using small molecules. AREAS COVERED This review presents the concept of cellular homeostasis and the balance between protein synthesis and protein degradation. The concept of protein degradation is concerned with molecular glues, which form part of the broader field of Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD). Next, pharmacochemical strategies for the rational design of MGDs are detailed and illustrated by examples of Ligand-Based (LBDD), Structure-Based (SBDD) and Fragment-Based Drug Design (FBDD). EXPERT OPINION Expanding the scope of what can be effectively targeted in the development of treatments for diseases that are incurable or resistant to conventional therapies offers new therapeutic options. The treatment of microbial infections and neurodegenerative diseases is a major societal challenge, and the discovery of MGDs appears to be a promising avenue. Combining different approaches to discover and exploit a variety of innovative therapeutic agents will create opportunities to treat diseases that are still incurable.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marie Cornu
- Normandie University, UNICAEN, CERMN, Caen, France
| | - Florian Schwalen
- Normandie University, UNICAEN, CERMN, Caen, France
- Department of Pharmacy, Caen University Hospital, Caen, France
| | - Marc Since
- Normandie University, UNICAEN, CERMN, Caen, France
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Zhang F, Jiang R, Sun S, Wu C, Yu Q, Awadasseid A, Wang J, Zhang W. Recent advances and mechanisms of action of PD-L1 degraders as potential therapeutic agents. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 268:116267. [PMID: 38422701 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
PD-L1 is an important immune checkpoint protein that can bind to T cells' PD-1 receptor, thereby promoting immune escape from tumors. In recent years, many researchers have developed strategies to degrade PD-L1 to improve the effect of immunotherapy. The study of degrading PD-L1 provides new opportunities for immunotherapy. Here, we mainly summarize and review the current active molecules and mechanisms that mediate the degradation of immature and mature PD-L1 during the post-translational modification stages, involving PD-L1 phosphorylation, glycosylation, palmitoylation, ubiquitination, and the autophagy-lysosomal process. This review expects that by degrading PD-L1 protein, we will not only gain a better understanding of oncogenic mechanisms involving tumor PD-L1 protein but also provide a new way to improve immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Ruiya Jiang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Shishi Sun
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Caiyun Wu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Qimeng Yu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Annoor Awadasseid
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Moganshan Institute, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing, China
| | - Jianwei Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China.
| | - Wen Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China.
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Jiang M, Wu W, Xiong Z, Yu X, Ye Z, Wu Z. Targeting autophagy drug discovery: Targets, indications and development trends. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 267:116117. [PMID: 38295689 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Autophagy plays a vital role in sustaining cellular homeostasis and its alterations have been implicated in the etiology of many diseases. Drugs development targeting autophagy began decades ago and hundreds of agents were developed, some of which are licensed for the clinical usage. However, no existing intervention specifically aimed at modulating autophagy is available. The obstacles that prevent drug developments come from the complexity of the actual impact of autophagy regulators in disease scenarios. With the development and application of new technologies, several promising categories of compounds for autophagy-based therapy have emerged in recent years. In this paper, the autophagy-targeted drugs based on their targets at various hierarchical sites of the autophagic signaling network, e.g., the upstream and downstream of the autophagosome and the autophagic components with enzyme activities are reviewed and analyzed respectively, with special attention paid to those at preclinical or clinical trials. The drugs tailored to specific autophagy alone and combination with drugs/adjuvant therapies widely used in clinical for various diseases treatments are also emphasized. The emerging drug design and development targeting selective autophagy receptors (SARs) and their related proteins, which would be expected to arrest or reverse the progression of disease in various cancers, inflammation, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders, are critically reviewed. And the challenges and perspective in clinically developing autophagy-targeted drugs and possible combinations with other medicine are considered in the review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjia Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, China Jiliang University, China
| | - Wayne Wu
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, USA
| | - Zijie Xiong
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, China Jiliang University, China
| | - Xiaoping Yu
- Department of Biology, China Jiliang University, China
| | - Zihong Ye
- Department of Biology, China Jiliang University, China
| | - Zhiping Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, China Jiliang University, China.
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Liu F, Lü W, Liu L. New implications for prion diseases therapy and prophylaxis. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1324702. [PMID: 38500676 PMCID: PMC10944861 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1324702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are rare, fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disorders that affect both animal and human. Human prion diseases mainly present as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). However, there are no curable therapies, and animal prion diseases may negatively affect the ecosystem and human society. Over the past five decades, scientists are devoting to finding available therapeutic or prophylactic agents for prion diseases. Numerous chemical compounds have been shown to be effective in experimental research on prion diseases, but with the limitations of toxicity, poor efficacy, and low pharmacokinetics. The earliest clinical treatments of CJD were almost carried out with anti-infectious agents that had little amelioration of the course. With the discovery of pathogenic misfolding prion protein (PrPSc) and increasing insights into prion biology, amounts of novel technologies have attempted to eliminate PrPSc. This review presents new perspectives on clinical and experimental prion diseases, including immunotherapy, gene therapy, small-molecule drug, and stem cell therapy. It further explores the prospects and challenge associated with these emerging therapeutic approaches for prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangzhou Liu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wenqi Lü
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Singh S, Srivastava P. Targeted Protein Degraders- The Druggability Perspective. J Pharm Sci 2024; 113:539-554. [PMID: 37926234 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2023.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Targeted Protein degraders (TPDs) show promise in harnessing cellular machinery to eliminate disease-causing proteins, even those previously considered undruggable. Especially if protein turnover is low, targeted protein removal bestows lasting therapeutic effect over typical inhibition. The demonstrated safety and efficacy profile of clinical candidates has fueled the surge in the number of potential candidates across different therapeutic areas. As TPDs often do not comply with Lipinski's rule of five, developing novel TPDs and unlocking their full potential requires overcoming solubility, permeability and oral bioavailability challenges. Tailored in-vitro assays are key to precise profiling and optimization, propelling breakthroughs in targeted protein degradation.
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Liang X, Ren H, Han F, Liang R, Zhao J, Liu H. The new direction of drug development: Degradation of undruggable targets through targeting chimera technology. Med Res Rev 2024; 44:632-685. [PMID: 37983964 DOI: 10.1002/med.21992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Imbalances in protein and noncoding RNA levels in vivo lead to the occurrence of many diseases. In addition to the use of small molecule inhibitors and agonists to restore these imbalances, recently emerged targeted degradation technologies provide a new direction for disease treatment. Targeted degradation technology directly degrades target proteins or RNA by utilizing the inherent degradation pathways, thereby eliminating the functions of pathogenic proteins (or RNA) to treat diseases. Compared with traditional therapies, targeted degradation technology which avoids the principle of traditional inhibitor occupation drive, has higher efficiency and selectivity, and widely expands the range of drug targets. It is one of the most promising and hottest areas for future drug development. Herein, we systematically introduced the in vivo degradation systems applied to degrader design: ubiquitin-proteasome system, lysosomal degradation system, and RNA degradation system. We summarized the development progress, structural characteristics, and limitations of novel chimeric design technologies based on different degradation systems. In addition, due to the lack of clear ligand-binding pockets, about 80% of disease-associated proteins cannot be effectively intervened with through traditional therapies. We deeply elucidated how to use targeted degradation technology to discover and design molecules for representative undruggable targets including transcription factors, small GTPases, and phosphatases. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of targeted degradation technology-related research advances and a new guidance for the chimeric design of undruggable targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuewu Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hairu Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fengyang Han
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Renwen Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayan Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
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Lawer A, Schulz L, Sawyer R, Liu X. Harmony of Protein Tags and Chimeric Molecules Empowers Targeted Protein Ubiquitination and Beyond. Cells 2024; 13:426. [PMID: 38474390 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are crucial mechanisms that underlie the intricacies of biological systems and disease mechanisms. This review focuses on the latest advancements in the design of heterobifunctional small molecules that hijack PTM machineries for target-specific modifications in living systems. A key innovation in this field is the development of proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which promote the ubiquitination of target proteins for proteasomal degradation. The past decade has seen several adaptations of the PROTAC concept to facilitate targeted (de)phosphorylation and acetylation. Protein fusion tags have been particularly vital in these proof-of-concept studies, aiding in the investigation of the functional roles of post-translationally modified proteins linked to diseases. This overview delves into protein-tagging strategies that enable the targeted modulation of ubiquitination, phosphorylation, and acetylation, emphasizing the synergies and challenges of integrating heterobifunctional molecules with protein tags in PTM research. Despite significant progress, many PTMs remain to be explored, and protein tag-assisted PTM-inducing chimeras will continue to play an important role in understanding the fundamental roles of protein PTMs and in exploring the therapeutic potential of manipulating protein modifications, particularly for targets not yet addressed by existing drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aggie Lawer
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
- Heart Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Newtown, NSW 2042, Australia
| | - Luke Schulz
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Renata Sawyer
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
- Heart Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Newtown, NSW 2042, Australia
| | - Xuyu Liu
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
- Heart Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Newtown, NSW 2042, Australia
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Wang Q, Yang X, Yuan R, Shen A, Wang P, Li H, Zhang J, Tian C, Jiang Z, Li W, Dong S. A co-assembly platform engaging macrophage scavenger receptor A for lysosome-targeting protein degradation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1663. [PMID: 38396109 PMCID: PMC10891067 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46130-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeted degradation of proteins has emerged as a powerful method for modulating protein homeostasis. Identification of suitable degraders is essential for achieving effective protein degradation. Here, we present a non-covalent degrader construction strategy, based on a modular supramolecular co-assembly system consisting of two self-assembling peptide ligands that bind cell membrane receptors and the protein of interest simultaneously, resulting in targeted protein degradation. The developed lysosome-targeting co-assemblies (LYTACAs) can induce lysosomal degradation of extracellular protein IL-17A and membrane protein PD-L1 in several scavenger receptor A-expressing cell lines. The IL-17A-degrading co-assembly has been applied in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model, where it decreases IL-17A levels in the skin lesion and alleviates psoriasis-like inflammation. Extending to asialoglycoprotein receptor-related protein degradation, LYTACAs have demonstrated the versatility and potential in streamlining degraders for extracellular and membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Chemical Biology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xingyue Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Chemical Biology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ruixin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Chemical Biology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ao Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Chemical Biology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Pushu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Chemical Biology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Haoting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Chemical Biology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Chemical Biology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Tian
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhujun Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenzhe Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Suwei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Chemical Biology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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Yang K, Tang Z, Xing C, Yan N. STING signaling in the brain: Molecular threats, signaling activities, and therapeutic challenges. Neuron 2024; 112:539-557. [PMID: 37944521 PMCID: PMC10922189 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is an innate immune signaling protein critical to infections, autoimmunity, and cancer. STING signaling is also emerging as an exciting and integral part of many neurological diseases. Here, we discuss recent advances in STING signaling in the brain. We summarize how molecular threats activate STING signaling in the diseased brain and how STING signaling activities in glial and neuronal cells cause neuropathology. We also review human studies of STING neurobiology and consider therapeutic challenges in targeting STING to treat neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Yang
- Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Zhen Tang
- Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Cong Xing
- Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Nan Yan
- Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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Nalawansha DA, Mangano K, den Besten W, Potts PR. TAC-tics for Leveraging Proximity Biology in Drug Discovery. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300712. [PMID: 38015747 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Chemically induced proximity (CIP) refers to co-opting naturally occurring biological pathways using synthetic molecules to recruit neosubstrates that are not normally encountered or to enhance the affinity of naturally occurring interactions. Leveraging proximity biology through CIPs has become a rapidly evolving field and has garnered considerable interest in basic research and drug discovery. PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera (PROTAC) is a well-established CIP modality that induces the proximity between a target protein and an E3 ubiquitin ligase, causing target protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Inspired by PROTACs, several other induced proximity modalities have emerged to modulate both proteins and RNA over recent years. In this review, we summarize the critical advances and opportunities in the field, focusing on protein degraders, RNA degraders and non-degrader modalities such as post-translational modification (PTM) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) modulators. We envision that these emerging proximity-based drug modalities will be valuable resources for both biological research and therapeutic discovery in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kyle Mangano
- Induced Proximity Platform, Amgen Research, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA
| | - Willem den Besten
- Induced Proximity Platform, Amgen Research, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA
| | - Patrick Ryan Potts
- Induced Proximity Platform, Amgen Research, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA
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Utsugi Y, Nishimura K, Yamanaka S, Nishino K, Kosako H, Sawasaki T, Shigemori H, Wandless TJ, Miyamae Y. Ubiquitin-Derived Fragment as a Peptide Linker for the Efficient Cleavage of a Target Protein from a Degron. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:497-505. [PMID: 38270585 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The chemogenetic control of cellular protein stability using degron tags is a powerful experimental strategy in biomedical research. However, this technique requires permanent fusion of the degron to a target protein, which may interfere with the proper function of the protein. Here, we report a peptide fragment from the carboxyl terminus of ubiquitin as a cleavable linker that exhibits the slow but efficient cleavage of a degron tag via cellular deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). We designed a fusion protein consisting of a cleavable linker and a destabilizing domain (DD), which conditionally controls the expression and release of a target protein in a ligand-induced state, allowing the free unmodified protein to perform its function. Insertion of an AGIA epitope at the carboxyl terminus of the linker made space for the DUBs to access the site to assist the cleavage reaction when the amino terminus of the target protein caused steric hindrance. The developed system, termed a cleavable degron using ubiquitin-derived linkers (c-DUB), provides robust and tunable regulation of target proteins in their native forms. The c-DUB system is a useful tool for the regulation of proteins that have terminal sites that are essential for the proper localization and function. In addition, a mechanistic investigation using proximity labeling showed that DUBs associate with the refolded DD to reverse ubiquitination, suggesting a cellular surveillance system for distinguishing the refolded DD from misfolded proteins. The c-DUB method may benefit from this machinery so that DUBs subsequently cleave the neighboring linker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Utsugi
- Doctoral Program in Life Science Innovation, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Ken Nishimura
- Laboratory of Gene Regulation, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yamanaka
- Division of Proteo-Interactome, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, 3 Bunkyocho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Kohei Nishino
- Division of Cell Signaling, Fujii Memorial Institute of Medical Sciences, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Kosako
- Division of Cell Signaling, Fujii Memorial Institute of Medical Sciences, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Sawasaki
- Division of Cell-Free Life Science, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, 3 Bunkyocho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Shigemori
- Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Thomas J Wandless
- Department of Chemical & Systems Biology, Stanford University, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Yusaku Miyamae
- Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
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Sahara N, Higuchi M. Diagnostic and therapeutic targeting of pathological tau proteins in neurodegenerative disorders. FEBS Open Bio 2024; 14:165-180. [PMID: 37746832 PMCID: PMC10839408 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies, characterized by fibrillar tau accumulation in neurons and glial cells, constitute a major neuropathological category of neurodegenerative diseases. Neurofibrillary tau lesions are strongly associated with cognitive deficits in these diseases, but the causal mechanisms underlying tau-induced neuronal dysfunction remain unresolved. Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy examination have revealed various core structures of tau filaments from different tauopathy patients, which can be used to classify tauopathies. In vivo visualization of tau pathology is now available using several tau positron emission tomography tracers. Among these radioprobes, PM-PBB3 allows high-contrast imaging of tau deposits in the brains of patients with diverse disorders and tauopathy mouse models. Selective degradation of pathological tau species by the ubiquitin-proteasome system or autophagy machinery is a potential therapeutic strategy. Alternatively, the non-cell-autonomous clearance of pathological tau species through neuron-glia networks could be reinforced as a disease-modifying treatment. In addition, the development of neuroinflammatory biomarkers is required for understanding the contribution of immunocompetent cells in the brain to preventing neurodegeneration. This review provides an overview of the current research and development of diagnostic and therapeutic agents targeting divergent tau pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naruhiko Sahara
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical SciencesNational Institutes for Quantum Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Makoto Higuchi
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical SciencesNational Institutes for Quantum Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
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44
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Zhang J, Ye J, Zhu S, Han B, Liu B. Context-dependent role of SIRT3 in cancer. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:173-190. [PMID: 38242748 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), an NAD+-dependent deacetylase, plays a key role in the modulation of metabolic reprogramming and regulation of cell death, as well as in shaping tumor phenotypes. Owing to its critical role in determining tumor-type specificity or the direction of tumor evolution, the development of small-molecule modulators of SIRT3, including inhibitors and activators, is of significant interest. In this review, we discuss recent studies on the oncogenic or tumor-suppressive functions of SIRT3, evaluate advances in SIRT3-targeted drug discovery, and present potential avenues for the design of small-molecule modulators of SIRT3 for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jing Ye
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Shiou Zhu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Bo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medical Technology and School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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45
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Yang N, Kong B, Zhu Z, Huang F, Zhang L, Lu T, Chen Y, Zhang Y, Jiang Y. Recent advances in targeted protein degraders as potential therapeutic agents. Mol Divers 2024; 28:309-333. [PMID: 36790583 PMCID: PMC9930057 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-023-10606-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) technology has gradually become widespread in the past 20 years, which greatly boosts the development of disease treatment. Contrary to small inhibitors that act on protein kinases, transcription factors, ion channels, and other targets they can bind to, targeted protein degraders could target "undruggable targets" and overcome drug resistance through ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) and lysosome pathway. Nowadays, some bivalent degraders such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have aroused great interest in drug discovery, and some of them have successfully advanced into clinical trials. In this review, to better understand the mechanism of degraders, we elucidate the targeted protein degraders according to their action process, relying on the ubiquitin-proteasome system or lysosome pathway. Then, we briefly summarize the study of PROTACs employing different E3 ligases. Subsequently, the effect of protein of interest (POI) ligands, linker, and E3 ligands on PROTAC degradation activity is also discussed in detail. Other novel technologies based on UPP and lysosome pathway have been discussed in this paper such as in-cell click-formed proteolysis-targeting chimeras (CLIPTACs), molecular glues, Antibody-PROTACs (Ab-PROTACs), autophagy-targeting chimeras, and lysosome-targeting chimeras. Based on the introduction of these degradation technologies, we can clearly understand the action process and degradation mechanism of these approaches. From this perspective, it will be convenient to obtain the development status of these drugs, choose appropriate degradation methods to achieve better disease treatment and provide basis for future research and simultaneously distinguish the direction of future research efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Yang
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Kong
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaohong Zhu
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Huang
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Liliang Zhang
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Lu
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yadong Chen
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yanmin Zhang
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yulei Jiang
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, People's Republic of China.
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46
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Zeke A, Gibson TJ, Dobson L. Linear motifs regulating protein secretion, sorting and autophagy in Leishmania parasites are diverged with respect to their host equivalents. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1011902. [PMID: 38363808 PMCID: PMC10903960 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathogenic, tropical Leishmania flagellates belong to an early-branching eukaryotic lineage (Kinetoplastida) with several unique features. Unfortunately, they are poorly understood from a molecular biology perspective, making development of mechanistically novel and selective drugs difficult. Here, we explore three functionally critical targeting short linear motif systems as well as their receptors in depth, using a combination of structural modeling, evolutionary sequence divergence and deep learning. Secretory signal peptides, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention motifs (KDEL motifs), and autophagy signals (motifs interacting with ATG8 family members) are ancient and essential components of cellular life. Although expected to be conserved amongst the kinetoplastids, we observe that all three systems show a varying degree of divergence from their better studied equivalents in animals, plants, or fungi. We not only describe their behaviour, but also build models that allow the prediction of localization and potential functions for several uncharacterized Leishmania proteins. The unusually Ala/Val-rich secretory signal peptides, endoplasmic reticulum resident proteins ending in Asp-Leu-COOH and atypical ATG8-like proteins are all unique molecular features of kinetoplastid parasites. Several of their critical protein-protein interactions could serve as targets of selective antimicrobial agents against Leishmaniasis due to their systematic divergence from the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andras Zeke
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Toby J. Gibson
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Laszlo Dobson
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Bioinformatics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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47
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Wang S, He F, Tian C, Sun A. From PROTAC to TPD: Advances and Opportunities in Targeted Protein Degradation. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:100. [PMID: 38256933 PMCID: PMC10818447 DOI: 10.3390/ph17010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
PROTAC is a rapidly developing engineering technology for targeted protein degradation using the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which has promising applications for inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and malignant tumors. This paper gives a brief overview of the development and design principles of PROTAC, with a special focus on PROTAC-based explorations in recent years aimed at achieving controlled protein degradation and improving the bioavailability of PROTAC, as well as TPD technologies that use other pathways such as autophagy and lysosomes to achieve targeted protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Proteome Research Center, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China; (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Fuchu He
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Proteome Research Center, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China; (S.W.); (F.H.)
- Research Unit of Proteomics Dirven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Chunyan Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Proteome Research Center, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China; (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Aihua Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Proteome Research Center, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China; (S.W.); (F.H.)
- Research Unit of Proteomics Dirven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China
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48
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Bao J, Chen Z, Li Y, Chen L, Wang W, Sheng C, Dong G. Discovery of Novel PDEδ Autophagic Degraders: A Case Study of Autophagy-Tethering Compound (ATTEC). ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:29-35. [PMID: 38229750 PMCID: PMC10788939 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The autophagy-tethering compound (ATTEC) technology has emerged as a promising strategy for targeted protein degradation (TPD). Here, we report the discovery of the first generation of PDEδ autophagic degraders using an ATTEC approach. The most promising compound 12c exhibited potent PDEδ binding affinity and efficiently induced PDEδ degradation in a concentration-dependent manner. Mechanistic studies confirmed that compound 12c reduced the PDEδ protein level through lysosome-mediated autophagy without affecting the PDEδ mRNA expression. Importantly, compound 12c was much more effective in suppressing the growth in KRAS mutant pancreatic cancer cells than the corresponding PDEδ inhibitor. Taken together, this study expands the application scope of the ATTEC approach and highlights the effectiveness of the PDEδ autophagic degradation strategy in antitumor drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingying Bao
- School
of Pharmacy, East China University of Science
and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- School
of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhenqian Chen
- School
of Pharmacy, East China University of Science
and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- School
of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yu Li
- School
of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Long Chen
- School
of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Wei Wang
- School
of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chunquan Sheng
- School
of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Guoqiang Dong
- School
of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China
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49
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Wu H, Lin J, Ling N, Zhang Y, He Y, Qiu L, Tan W. Functional Nucleic Acid-Based Immunomodulation for T Cell-Mediated Cancer Therapy. ACS NANO 2024; 18:119-135. [PMID: 38117770 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
T cell-mediated immunity plays a pivotal role in cancer immunotherapy. The anticancer actions of T cells are coordinated by a sequence of biological processes, including the capture and presentation of antigens by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), the activation of T cells by APCs, and the subsequent killing of cancer cells by activated T cells. However, cancer cells have various means to evade immune responses. Meanwhile, these vulnerabilities provide potential targets for cancer treatments. Functional nucleic acids (FNAs) make up a class of synthetic nucleic acids with specific biological functions. With their diverse functionality, good biocompatibility, and high programmability, FNAs have attracted widespread interest in cancer immunotherapy. This Review focuses on recent research progress in employing FNAs as molecular tools for T cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy, including corresponding challenges and prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wu
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Jie Lin
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Neng Ling
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Yutong Zhang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Yao He
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Liping Qiu
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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50
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Tan S, Wang D, Fu Y, Zheng H, Liu Y, Lu B. Targeted clearance of mitochondria by an autophagy-tethering compound (ATTEC) and its potential therapeutic effects. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2023; 68:3013-3026. [PMID: 37940449 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2023.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Increased mitochondrial damage plays a critical role in many neurodegeneration-related diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and Down syndrome (DS). Thus, enhancement of mitochondrial degradation by small molecule compounds may provide promising new strategies to tackle these diseases. Here, we explored the strategy to induce clearance of mitochondria by targeting them to the autophagy machinery by autophagy-tethering compounds (ATTECs). We provided the proof-of-concept evidence demonstrating that the bifunctional compound (mT1) binding to both the outer mitochondrial membrane protein TSPO and the autophagosome protein LC3B simultaneously may enhance the engulfment of damaged mitochondria by autophagosomes and subsequent autophagic degradation of them. In addition, preliminary experiments suggest that mT1 attenuated disease-relevant phenotypes in both a PD cellular model and a DS organoid model. Taken together, we demonstrate the possibility of degrading mitochondria by bifunctional ATTECs, which confirms the capability of degrading organelles by ATTECs and provides potential new strategies in the intervention of mitochondria-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuixia Tan
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Da Wang
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Yuhua Fu
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Huiwen Zheng
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
| | - Boxun Lu
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
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