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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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Jiang T, Li Y, Hong W, Lin M. A robust CRISPR interference gene repression system in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Arch Microbiol 2023; 206:41. [PMID: 38147133 PMCID: PMC10751265 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03770-y] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a significant cause of seafood-associated gastroenteritis and pestilence in aquaculture worldwide. Despite extensive research, strategies for protein depletion in this pathogen remain limited. Herein, we constructed a new CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) system for gene repression based on the combination of a shuttle vector pVv3 and the nuclease-null Cas9 variant (dead Cas9, or dCas9) from Streptococcus pyrogens. This CRISPRi is induced by adding both IPTG and arabinose. We showed that gene repression is scalable via the use of multiple sgRNAs. We also demonstrated that this gene repression can be precisely tuned by adjusting the amount of two different inducers and can be reversed by removing the inducers. This system provides a simple approach for selective gene repression on a genome-wide scale in V. parahaemolyticus. Application of this system will dramatically accelerate investigations of this bacterium, including studies of physiology, pathogenesis, and drug target discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taoyuan Jiang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nan'an Hospital, 330, Ximei Residential District, Xinhua Street, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China.
| | - Yuhuan Li
- The Second People's Hospital of Three Gorges University, 18, Tiyuchang Road, Yichang, Hubei Province, China
| | - Wencong Hong
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nan'an Hospital, 330, Ximei Residential District, Xinhua Street, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Mingyu Lin
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nan'an Hospital, 330, Ximei Residential District, Xinhua Street, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China
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Sarathy JP, Aldrich CC, Go ML, Dick T. PROTAC antibiotics: the time is now. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:363-370. [PMID: 37027333 PMCID: PMC10540314 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2178413] [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: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Novel antibiotics are needed to keep antibiotic resistance at bay and to improve treatment of the many drug-susceptible infections for which current therapies achieve poor cure rates. While revolutionizing human therapeutics, the concept of targeted protein degradation (TPD) by bifunctional proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) has not yet been applied to the discovery of antibiotics. A major obstacle precluding successful translation of this strategy to antibiotic development is that bacteria lack the E3 ligase-proteasome system exploited by human PROTACs to facilitate target degradation. AREAS COVERED The authors describe the serendipitous discovery of the first monofunctional target-degrading antibiotic pyrazinamide, supporting TPD as a viable and novel approach in antibiotic discovery. They then discuss the rational design, mechanism, and activity of the first bifunctional antibacterial target degrader BacPROTAC, enabling a generalizable approach to TPD in bacteria. EXPERT OPINION BacPROTACs demonstrate that linking a target directly to a bacterial protease complex can promote target degradation. BacPROTACs successfully bypass the 'middleman' E3 ligase, providing an entry strategy for the generation of antibacterial PROTACs. We speculate that antibacterial PROTACs will not only expand the target space but may also improve treatment by allowing dosage reduction, stronger bactericidal activity and activity against drug-tolerant 'persisters.'
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Courtney C. Aldrich
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mei-Lin Go
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Thomas Dick
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ, USA
- Department of Medical Sciences, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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Venkatesan J, Murugan D, Rangasamy L. A Perspective on Newly Emerging Proteolysis-Targeting Strategies in Antimicrobial Drug Discovery. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:1717. [PMID: 36551374 PMCID: PMC9774230 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11121717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation is a new aspect in the field of drug discovery. Traditionally, developing an antibiotic includes tedious and expensive processes, such as drug screening, lead optimization, and formulation. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are new-generation drugs that use the proteolytic mechanism to selectively degrade and eliminate proteins involved in human diseases. The application of PROTACs is explored immensely in the field of cancer, and various PROTACs are in clinical trials. Thus, researchers have a profound interest in pursuing PROTAC technology as a new weapon to fight pathogenic viruses and bacteria. This review highlights the importance of antimicrobial PROTACs and other similar "PROTAC-like" techniques to degrade pathogenic target proteins (i.e., viral/bacterial proteins). These techniques can perform specific protein degradation of the pathogenic protein to avoid resistance caused by mutations or abnormal expression of the pathogenic protein. PROTAC-based antimicrobial therapeutics have the advantage of high specificity and the ability to degrade "undruggable" proteins, such as nonenzymatic and structural proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janarthanan Venkatesan
- Drug Discovery Unit (DDU), Centre for Biomaterials, Cellular, and Molecular Theranostics (CBCMT), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
- School of Advanced Sciences (SAS), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Dhanashree Murugan
- Drug Discovery Unit (DDU), Centre for Biomaterials, Cellular, and Molecular Theranostics (CBCMT), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
- School of Biosciences and Technology (SBST), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Loganathan Rangasamy
- Drug Discovery Unit (DDU), Centre for Biomaterials, Cellular, and Molecular Theranostics (CBCMT), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
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Current Challenges in Small Molecule Proximity-Inducing Compound Development for Targeted Protein Degradation Using the Ubiquitin Proteasomal System. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27238119. [PMID: 36500212 PMCID: PMC9740444 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Bivalent proximity-inducing compounds represent a novel class of small molecule therapeutics with exciting potential and new challenges. The most prominent examples of such compounds are utilized in targeted protein degradation where E3 ligases are hijacked to recruit a substrate protein to the proteasome via ubiquitination. In this review we provide an overview of the current state of E3 ligases used in targeted protein degradation, their respective ligands as well as challenges and opportunities that present themselves with these compounds.
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Powell M, Blaskovich MAT, Hansford KA. Targeted Protein Degradation: The New Frontier of Antimicrobial Discovery? ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:2050-2067. [PMID: 34259518 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation aims to hijack endogenous protein quality control systems to achieve direct knockdown of protein targets. This exciting technology utilizes event-based pharmacology to produce therapeutic outcomes, a feature that distinguishes it from classical occupancy-based inhibitor agents. Early degrader candidates display resilience to mutations while possessing potent nanomolar activity and high target specificity. Paired with the rapid advancement of our knowledge in the factors driving targeted degradation, the expansion of this style of therapeutic agent to a range of disease indications is eagerly awaited. In particular, the area of antibiotic discovery is sorely lacking in novel approaches, with the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) crisis looming as the next potential global health calamity. Here, the current advances in targeted protein degradation are highlighted, and potential approaches for designing novel antimicrobial protein degraders are proposed, ranging from adaptations of current strategies to completely novel approaches to targeted protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Powell
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Mark A. T. Blaskovich
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Karl A. Hansford
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Han HW, Patel KD, Kwak JH, Jun SK, Jang TS, Lee SH, Knowles JC, Kim HW, Lee HH, Lee JH. Selenium Nanoparticles as Candidates for Antibacterial Substitutes and Supplements against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1028. [PMID: 34356651 PMCID: PMC8301847 DOI: 10.3390/biom11071028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria have increased rapidly, representing a major threat to human health. This problem has created an urgent need to identify alternatives for the treatment of MDR bacteria. The aim of this study was to identify the antibacterial activity of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and selenium nanowires (SeNWs) against MDR bacteria and assess the potential synergistic effects when combined with a conventional antibiotic (linezolid). SeNPs and SeNWs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential, and UV-visible analysis. The antibacterial effects of SeNPs and SeNWs were confirmed by the macro-dilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. SeNPs showed MIC values against methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) at concentrations of 20, 80, 320, and >320 μg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, SeNWs showed a MIC value of >320 μg/mL against all tested bacteria. Therefore, MSSA, MRSA, and VRSA were selected for the bacteria to be tested, and SeNPs were selected as the antimicrobial agent for the following experiments. In the time-kill assay, SeNPs at a concentration of 4X MIC (80 and 320 μg/mL) showed bactericidal effects against MSSA and MRSA, respectively. At a concentration of 2X MIC (40 and 160 μg/mL), SeNPs showed bacteriostatic effects against MSSA and bactericidal effects against MRSA, respectively. In the synergy test, SeNPs showed a synergistic effect with linezolid (LZD) through protein degradation against MSSA and MRSA. In conclusion, these results suggest that SeNPs can be candidates for antibacterial substitutes and supplements against MDR bacteria for topical use, such as dressings. However, for use in clinical situations, additional experiments such as toxicity and synergistic mechanism tests of SeNPs are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee-Won Han
- Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea; (H.-W.H.); (K.D.P.); (J.C.K.); (H.-W.K.)
- Department of Biomaterials Science, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
| | - Kapil D. Patel
- Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea; (H.-W.H.); (K.D.P.); (J.C.K.); (H.-W.K.)
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Jin-Hwan Kwak
- Department of Life Science, Handong Global University, Pohang 37554, Korea;
| | - Soo-Kyung Jun
- Department of Dental Hygiene, Hanseo University, Seosan 31962, Korea;
| | - Tae-Su Jang
- Department of Pre-Medi, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea;
| | - Sung-Hoon Lee
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea;
| | - Jonathan Campbell Knowles
- Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea; (H.-W.H.); (K.D.P.); (J.C.K.); (H.-W.K.)
- UCL Eastman-Korea Dental Medicine Innovation Centre, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
- Division of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Hae-Won Kim
- Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea; (H.-W.H.); (K.D.P.); (J.C.K.); (H.-W.K.)
- Department of Biomaterials Science, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
- Department of Nanobiomedical Science and BK21 PLUS NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
- Cell & Matter Institute, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
- Department of Regenerative Dental Medicine, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
| | - Hae-Hyoung Lee
- Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea; (H.-W.H.); (K.D.P.); (J.C.K.); (H.-W.K.)
- Department of Biomaterials Science, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
- Department of Nanobiomedical Science and BK21 PLUS NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
| | - Jung-Hwan Lee
- Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea; (H.-W.H.); (K.D.P.); (J.C.K.); (H.-W.K.)
- Department of Biomaterials Science, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
- Department of Nanobiomedical Science and BK21 PLUS NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
- Cell & Matter Institute, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
- Department of Regenerative Dental Medicine, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea
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Izert MA, Klimecka MM, Górna MW. Applications of Bacterial Degrons and Degraders - Toward Targeted Protein Degradation in Bacteria. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:669762. [PMID: 34026843 PMCID: PMC8138137 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.669762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A repertoire of proteolysis-targeting signals known as degrons is a necessary component of protein homeostasis in every living cell. In bacteria, degrons can be used in place of chemical genetics approaches to interrogate and control protein function. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of synthetic applications of degrons in targeted proteolysis in bacteria. We describe recent advances ranging from large screens employing tunable degradation systems and orthogonal degrons, to sophisticated tools and sensors for imaging. Based on the success of proteolysis-targeting chimeras as an emerging paradigm in cancer drug discovery, we discuss perspectives on using bacterial degraders for studying protein function and as novel antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maria Wiktoria Górna
- Structural Biology Group, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Pei J, Wang G, Feng L, Zhang J, Jiang T, Sun Q, Ouyang L. Targeting Lysosomal Degradation Pathways: New Strategies and Techniques for Drug Discovery. J Med Chem 2021; 64:3493-3507. [PMID: 33764774 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
A series of tools for targeted protein degradation are inspiring scientists to develop new drugs with advantages over traditional small-molecule drugs. Among these tools, proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are most representative of the technology based on proteasomes. However, the proteasome has little degradation effect on certain macromolecular proteins or aggregates, extracellular proteins, and organelles, which limits the application of PROTACs. Additionally, lysosomes play an important role in protein degradation. Therefore, lysosome-induced protein degradation drugs can directly regulate protein levels in vivo, achieve the goal of treating diseases, and provide new strategies for drug discovery. Lysosome-based degradation technology has the potential for clinical translation. In this review, strategies targeting lysosomal pathways and lysosome-based degradation techniques are summarized. In addition, lysosome-based degrading drugs are described, and the advantages and challenges are listed. Our efforts will certainly promote the design, discovery, and clinical application of drugs associated with this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junping Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Guan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lu Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jifa Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Tingting Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qiu Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Liang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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The Potential of Proteolytic Chimeras as Pharmacological Tools and Therapeutic Agents. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25245956. [PMID: 33339292 PMCID: PMC7766482 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25245956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The induction of protein degradation in a highly selective and efficient way by means of druggable molecules is known as targeted protein degradation (TPD). TPD emerged in the literature as a revolutionary idea: a heterobifunctional chimera with the capacity of creating an interaction between a protein of interest (POI) and a E3 ubiquitin ligase will induce a process of events in the POI, including ubiquitination, targeting to the proteasome, proteolysis and functional silencing, acting as a sort of degradative knockdown. With this programmed protein degradation, toxic and disease-causing proteins could be depleted from cells with potentially effective low drug doses. The proof-of-principle validation of this hypothesis in many studies has made the TPD strategy become a new attractive paradigm for the development of therapies for the treatment of multiple unmet diseases. Indeed, since the initial protacs (Proteolysis targeting chimeras) were posited in the 2000s, the TPD field has expanded extraordinarily, developing innovative chemistry and exploiting multiple degradation approaches. In this article, we review the breakthroughs and recent novel concepts in this highly active discipline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- School of Medicine Huaqiao University Quanzhou 362021 P. R. China
| | - Jieqing Liu
- School of Medicine Huaqiao University Quanzhou 362021 P. R. China
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Tian T, Guo T, Zhen W, Zou J, Li F. BET degrader inhibits tumor progression and stem-like cell growth via Wnt/β-catenin signaling repression in glioma cells. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:900. [PMID: 33093476 PMCID: PMC7582157 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-03117-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Based on their histological appearance, gliomas are a very common primary tumor type of the brain and are classified into grades, Grade I to Grade IV, of the World Health Organization. Treatment failure is due to the cancer stem cells (CSC) phenotype maintenance and self-renewal. BET degraders such as ZBC260 represents a novel class of BET inhibitors that act by inducing BET proteins degradation. This study explores the mode of action and effects of ZBC260 in vivo and in vitro against glioma. By inhibiting cell proliferation and inducting cell cycle arrest, the fact that glioma cell lines show sensitivity to ZBC260. Notably, ZBC260 targeted glioma without side effects in vivo. In addition, the stem cell-like properties of glioma cells were inhibited upon ZBC260 treatment. When the mechanism was examined, our findings indicated that Wnt/β-catenin pathway repression is required for ZBC260-induced stem cell-like properties and tumor growth suppression. In conclusion, the growth of tumors and stem cell-like properties were inhibited by ZBC260 via Wnt/β-catenin repression, which suggests ZBC260 as a potential therapeutic agent for glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Tian
- Department of Oncology, Shandong Zaozhuang Municipal Hospital, Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Tongqi Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of China Medical University (The People's Hospital of Liaoning Province), Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Wei Zhen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of China Medical University (The People's Hospital of Liaoning Province), Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Jianjun Zou
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of China Medical University (The People's Hospital of Liaoning Province), Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Fuyong Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of China Medical University (The People's Hospital of Liaoning Province), Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
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