1
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Niehrs C, Seidl C, Lee H. An "R-spondin code" for multimodal signaling ON-OFF states. Bioessays 2024:e2400144. [PMID: 39180250 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400144] [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: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
R-spondins (RSPOs) are a family of secreted proteins and stem cell growth factors that are potent co-activators of Wnt signaling. Recently, RSPO2 and RSPO3 were shown to be multifunctional, not only amplifying Wnt- but also binding BMP- and FGF receptors to downregulate signaling. The common mechanism underlying these diverse functions is that RSPO2 and RSPO3 act as "endocytosers" that link transmembrane proteins to ZNRF3/RNF43 E3 ligases and trigger target internalization. Thus, RSPOs are natural protein targeting chimeras for cell surface proteins. Conducting data mining and cell surface binding assays we report additional candidate RSPO targets, including SMO, PTC1,2, LGI1, ROBO4, and PTPR(F/S). We propose that there is an "R-spondin code" that imparts combinatorial signaling ON-OFF states of multiple growth factors. This code involves the modular RSPO domains, notably distinct motifs in the divergent RSPO-TSP1 domains to mediate target interaction and internalization. The RSPO code offers a novel framework for the understanding how diverse signaling pathways may be coordinately regulated in development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christof Niehrs
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
| | - Carina Seidl
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hyeyoon Lee
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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2
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Oslund RC, Holland PM, Lesley SA, Fadeyi OO. Therapeutic potential of cis-targeting bispecific antibodies. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:1473-1489. [PMID: 39111317 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.07.004] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/18/2024]
Abstract
The growing clinical success of bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) has led to rapid interest in leveraging dual targeting in order to generate novel modes of therapeutic action beyond mono-targeting approaches. While bsAbs that bind targets on two different cells (trans-targeting) are showing promise in the clinic, the co-targeting of two proteins on the same cell surface through cis-targeting bsAbs (cis-bsAbs) is an emerging strategy to elicit new functionalities. This includes the ability to induce proximity, enhance binding to a target, increase target/cell selectivity, and/or co-modulate function on the cell surface with the goal of altering, reversing, or eradicating abnormal cellular activity that contributes to disease. In this review, we focus on the impact of cis-bsAbs in the clinic, their emerging applications, and untangle the intricacies of improving bsAb discovery and development.
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3
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Post Y, Lu C, Fletcher RB, Yeh WC, Nguyen H, Lee SJ, Li Y. Design principles and therapeutic applications of novel synthetic WNT signaling agonists. iScience 2024; 27:109938. [PMID: 38832011 PMCID: PMC11145361 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109938] [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: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Wingless-related integration site or Wingless and Int-1 or Wingless-Int (WNT) signaling is crucial for embryonic development, and adult tissue homeostasis and regeneration, through its essential roles in cell fate, patterning, and stem cell regulation. The biophysical characteristics of WNT ligands have hindered efforts to interrogate ligand activity in vivo and prevented their development as therapeutics. Recent breakthroughs have enabled the generation of synthetic WNT signaling molecules that possess characteristics of natural ligands and potently activate the pathway, while also providing distinct advantages for therapeutic development and manufacturing. This review provides a detailed discussion of the protein engineering of these molecular platforms for WNT signaling agonism. We discuss the importance of WNT signaling in several organs and share insights from the initial application of these new classes of molecules in vitro and in vivo. These molecules offer a unique opportunity to enhance our understanding of how WNT signaling agonism promotes tissue repair, enabling targeted development of tailored therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yorick Post
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Chenggang Lu
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Russell B. Fletcher
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Wen-Chen Yeh
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Huy Nguyen
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Sung-Jin Lee
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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4
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Sampathkumar P, Jung H, Chen H, Zhang Z, Suen N, Yang Y, Huang Z, Lopez T, Benisch R, Lee SJ, Ye J, Yeh WC, Li Y. Targeted protein degradation systems to enhance Wnt signaling. eLife 2024; 13:RP93908. [PMID: 38847394 PMCID: PMC11161174 DOI: 10.7554/elife.93908] [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] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Molecules that facilitate targeted protein degradation (TPD) offer great promise as novel therapeutics. The human hepatic lectin asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGR) is selectively expressed on hepatocytes. We have previously engineered an anti-ASGR1 antibody-mutant RSPO2 (RSPO2RA) fusion protein (called SWEETS) to drive tissue-specific degradation of ZNRF3/RNF43 E3 ubiquitin ligases, which achieved hepatocyte-specific enhanced Wnt signaling, proliferation, and restored liver function in mouse models, and an antibody-RSPO2RA fusion molecule is currently in human clinical trials. In the current study, we identified two new ASGR1- and ASGR1/2-specific antibodies, 8M24 and 8G8. High-resolution crystal structures of ASGR1:8M24 and ASGR2:8G8 complexes revealed that these antibodies bind to distinct epitopes on opposing sides of ASGR, away from the substrate-binding site. Both antibodies enhanced Wnt activity when assembled as SWEETS molecules with RSPO2RA through specific effects sequestering E3 ligases. In addition, 8M24-RSPO2RA and 8G8-RSPO2RA efficiently downregulate ASGR1 through TPD mechanisms. These results demonstrate the possibility of combining different therapeutic effects and degradation mechanisms in a single molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hui Chen
- Surrozen, IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | | | | | - Yiran Yang
- Surrozen, IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | - Zhong Huang
- Surrozen, IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | - Tom Lopez
- Surrozen, IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | | | | | - Jay Ye
- Surrozen, IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | | | - Yang Li
- Surrozen, IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
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5
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Crook ZR, Sevilla GP, Young P, Girard EJ, Phi TD, Howard M, Price J, Olson JM, Nairn NW. CYpHER: Catalytic extracellular targeted protein degradation with high potency and durable effect. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.21.581471. [PMID: 38712232 PMCID: PMC11071310 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.21.581471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Many disease-causing proteins have multiple pathogenic mechanisms, and conventional inhibitors struggle to reliably disrupt more than one. Targeted protein degradation (TPD) can eliminate the protein, and thus all its functions, by directing a cell's protein turnover machinery towards it. Two established strategies either engage catalytic E3 ligases or drive uptake towards the endolysosomal pathway. Here we describe CYpHER (CatalYtic pH-dependent Endolysosomal delivery with Recycling) technology with potency and durability from a novel catalytic mechanism that shares the specificity and straightforward modular design of endolysosomal uptake. By bestowing pH-dependent release on the target engager and using the rapid-cycling transferrin receptor as the uptake receptor, CYpHER induces endolysosomal target delivery while re-using drug, potentially yielding increased potency and reduced off-target tissue exposure risks. The TfR-based approach allows targeting to tumors that overexpress this receptor and offers the potential for transport to the CNS. CYpHER function was demonstrated in vitro with EGFR and PD-L1, and in vivo with EGFR in a model of EGFR-driven non-small cell lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary R. Crook
- Cyclera Therapeutics Inc, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. Present address of Z.R.C., G.P.S., and N.W.N
- Blaze Bioscience Inc., Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Gregory P. Sevilla
- Cyclera Therapeutics Inc, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. Present address of Z.R.C., G.P.S., and N.W.N
- Blaze Bioscience Inc., Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - Emily J. Girard
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Present address of E.J.G. and J.M.O
| | | | | | - Jason Price
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Present address of E.J.G. and J.M.O
| | - James M. Olson
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Present address of E.J.G. and J.M.O
| | - Natalie W. Nairn
- Cyclera Therapeutics Inc, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. Present address of Z.R.C., G.P.S., and N.W.N
- Blaze Bioscience Inc., Seattle, WA 98109, USA
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6
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Klein C, Brinkmann U, Reichert JM, Kontermann RE. The present and future of bispecific antibodies for cancer therapy. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024; 23:301-319. [PMID: 38448606 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-024-00896-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) enable novel mechanisms of action and/or therapeutic applications that cannot be achieved using conventional IgG-based antibodies. Consequently, development of these molecules has garnered substantial interest in the past decade and, as of the end of 2023, 14 bsAbs have been approved: 11 for the treatment of cancer and 3 for non-oncology indications. bsAbs are available in different formats, address different targets and mediate anticancer function via different molecular mechanisms. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in the field of bsAbs for cancer therapy. We focus on bsAbs that are approved or in clinical development, including bsAb-mediated dual modulators of signalling pathways, tumour-targeted receptor agonists, bsAb-drug conjugates, bispecific T cell, natural killer cell and innate immune cell engagers, and bispecific checkpoint inhibitors and co-stimulators. Finally, we provide an outlook into next-generation bsAbs in earlier stages of development, including trispecifics, bsAb prodrugs, bsAbs that induce degradation of tumour targets and bsAbs acting as cytokine mimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Klein
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland.
| | - Ulrich Brinkmann
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | | | - Roland E Kontermann
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
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7
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Yang JL, Yamada-Hunter SA, Labanieh L, Sotillo E, Cheah JS, Roberts DS, Mackall CL, Bertozzi CR, Ting AY. Directed evolution of genetically encoded LYTACs for cell-mediated delivery. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2320053121. [PMID: 38513100 PMCID: PMC10990137 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320053121] [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] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Lysosome-targeting chimeras (LYTACs) are a promising therapeutic modality to drive the degradation of extracellular proteins. However, early versions of LYTAC contain synthetic glycopeptides that cannot be genetically encoded. Here, we present our designs for a fully genetically encodable LYTAC (GELYTAC), making our tool compatible with integration into therapeutic cells for targeted delivery at diseased sites. To achieve this, we replaced the glycopeptide portion of LYTACs with the protein insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2). After showing initial efficacy with wild-type IGF2, we increased the potency of GELYTAC using directed evolution. Subsequently, we demonstrated that our engineered GELYTAC construct not only secretes from HEK293T cells but also from human primary T-cells to drive the uptake of various targets into receiver cells. Immune cells engineered to secrete GELYTAC thus represent a promising avenue for spatially selective targeted protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Lee Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Sean A. Yamada-Hunter
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Louai Labanieh
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA94305
| | - Elena Sotillo
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Joleen S. Cheah
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - David S. Roberts
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Crystal L. Mackall
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA94305
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Carolyn R. Bertozzi
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- HHMI, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Alice Y. Ting
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
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8
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Shi Y, Bashian EE, Hou Y, Wu P. Chemical immunology: Recent advances in tool development and applications. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:S2451-9456(24)00080-1. [PMID: 38508196 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.02.006] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Immunology was one of the first biological fields to embrace chemical approaches. The development of new chemical approaches and techniques has provided immunologists with an impressive arsenal of tools to address challenges once considered insurmountable. This review focuses on advances at the interface of chemistry and immunobiology over the past two decades that have not only opened new avenues in basic immunological research, but also revolutionized drug development for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. These include chemical approaches to understand and manipulate antigen presentation and the T cell priming process, to facilitate immune cell trafficking and regulate immune cell functions, and therapeutic applications of chemical approaches to disease control and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Shi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Eleanor E Bashian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Yingqin Hou
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Peng Wu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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9
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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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10
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Rhee K, Zhou X. Two in one: the emerging concept of bifunctional antibodies. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 85:103050. [PMID: 38142645 PMCID: PMC10922881 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.103050] [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: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic antibodies have become indispensable for treating a wide range of diseases, and their significance in drug discovery has expanded considerably over the past few decades. Bifunctional antibodies are now emerging as a promising new drug modality to address previously unmet needs in antibody therapeutics. Distinct from traditional antibodies that operate through an 'occupancy-based' inhibition mechanism, these innovative molecules recruit the protein of interest to a 'biological effector,' initiating specific downstream consequences such as targeted protein degradation or posttranslational modifications. In this review, we emphasize the potential of bifunctional antibodies to tackle diverse biomedical challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin Rhee
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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11
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Wells JA, Kumru K. Extracellular targeted protein degradation: an emerging modality for drug discovery. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024; 23:126-140. [PMID: 38062152 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00833-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) has emerged in the past decade as a major new drug modality to remove intracellular proteins with bispecific small molecules that recruit the protein of interest (POI) to an E3 ligase for degradation in the proteasome. Unlike classic occupancy-based drugs, intracellular TPD (iTPD) eliminates the target and works catalytically, and so can be more effective and sustained, with lower dose requirements. Recently, this approach has been expanded to the extracellular proteome, including both secreted and membrane proteins. Extracellular targeted protein degradation (eTPD) uses bispecific antibodies, conjugates or small molecules to degrade extracellular POIs by trafficking them to the lysosome for degradation. Here, we focus on recent advances in eTPD, covering degrader systems, targets, molecular designs and parameters to advance them. Now almost any protein, intracellular or extracellular, is addressable in principle with TPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Kaan Kumru
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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12
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Yang JL, Yamada-Hunter SA, Labanieh L, Sotillo E, Cheah JS, Roberts DS, Mackall CL, Ting AY, Bertozzi CR. Directed Evolution of Genetically Encoded LYTACs for Cell-Mediated Delivery. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.14.567117. [PMID: 38014030 PMCID: PMC10680704 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.14.567117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Lysosome-targeting chimeras (LYTACs) are a promising therapeutic modality to drive the degradation of extracellular proteins. However, early versions of LYTAC contain synthetic glycopeptides that cannot be genetically encoded. Here we present our designs for a fully genetically encodable LYTAC (GELYTAC), making our tool compatible with integration into therapeutic cells for targeted delivery at diseased sites. To achieve this, we replaced the glycopeptide portion of LYTACs with the protein insulin like growth factor 2 (IGF2). After showing initial efficacy with wild type IGF2, we increased the potency of GELYTAC using directed evolution. Subsequently, we demonstrated that our engineered GELYTAC construct not only secretes from HEK293T cells but also from human primary T-cells to drive the uptake of various targets into receiver cells. Immune cells engineered to secrete GELYTAC thus represent a promising avenue for spatially-selective targeted protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Lee Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sean A. Yamada-Hunter
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Louai Labanieh
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Elena Sotillo
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Joleen S. Cheah
- Departments of Biology, and Genetics Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David S. Roberts
- Department of Chemistry and Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Crystal L. Mackall
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alice Y. Ting
- Department of Chemistry and Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Departments of Biology, and Genetics Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Carolyn R. Bertozzi
- Department of Chemistry and Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
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