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Pichlak M, Sobierajski T, Błażewska KM, Gendaszewska-Darmach E. Targeting reversible post-translational modifications with PROTACs: a focus on enzymes modifying protein lysine and arginine residues. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:2254012. [PMID: 37667522 PMCID: PMC10481767 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2254012] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PROTACs represent an emerging field in medicinal chemistry, which has already led to the development of compounds that reached clinical studies. Posttranslational modifications contribute to the complexity of proteomes, with 2846 disease-associated sites. PROTAC field is very advanced in targeting kinases, while its use for enzymes mediating posttranslational modifications of the basic amino acid residues, started to be developed recently. Therefore, we bring together this less popular class of PROTACs, targeting lysine acetyltransferases/deacetylases, lysine and arginine methyltransferases, ADP-ribosyltransferases, E3 ligases, and ubiquitin-specific proteases. We put special emphasis on structural aspects of PROTAC elements to facilitate the lengthy experimental endeavours directed towards developing PROTACs. We will cover the period from the inception of the field, 2017, to April 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Pichlak
- Institute of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź, Poland
| | - Tomasz Sobierajski
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź, Poland
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2
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Park SY, Gurung R, Hwang JH, Kang JH, Jung HJ, Zeb A, Hwang JI, Park SJ, Maeng HJ, Shin D, Oh SH. Development of KEAP1-targeting PROTAC and its antioxidant properties: In vitro and in vivo. Redox Biol 2023; 64:102783. [PMID: 37348157 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress due to abnormal accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an initiator of a large number of human diseases, and thus, the elimination and prevention of excessive ROS are important aspects of preventing the development of such diseases. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is an essential transcription factor that defends against oxidative stress, and its function is negatively controlled by Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1). Therefore, activating NRF2 by inhibiting KEAP1 is viewed as a strategy for combating oxidative stress-related diseases. Here, we generated a cereblon (CRBN)-based proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC), which we named SD2267, that induces the proteasomal degradation of KEAP1 and leads to NRF2 activation. As was intended, SD2267 bound to KEAP1, recruited CRBN, and induced the degradation of KEAP1. Furthermore, the KEAP1 degradation efficacy of SD2267 was diminished by MG132 (a proteasomal degradation inhibitor) but not by chloroquine (an autophagy inhibitor), which suggested that KEAP1 degradation by SD2267 was proteasomal degradation-dependent and autophagy-independent. Following KEAP1 degradation, SD2267 induced the nuclear translocation of NRF2, which led to the expression of NRF2 target genes and attenuated ROS accumulation induced by acetaminophen (APAP) in hepatocytes. Based on in vivo pharmacokinetic study, SD2267 was injected intraperitoneally at 1 or 3 mg/kg in APAP-induced liver injury mouse model. We observed that SD2267 degraded hepatic KEAP1 and attenuated APAP-induced liver damage. Summarizing, we described the synthesis of a KEAP1-targeting PROTAC (SD2267) and its efficacy and mode of action in vitro and in vivo. The results obtained suggest that SD2267 could be used to treat hepatic diseases related to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se Yong Park
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Raju Gurung
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Ho Hwang
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Hee Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jin Jung
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Alam Zeb
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Ik Hwang
- Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Jean Park
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Joo Maeng
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongyun Shin
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seung Hyun Oh
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Adams CM, Mitra R, Xiao Y, Michener P, Palazzo J, Chao A, Gour J, Cassel J, Salvino JM, Eischen CM. Targeted MDM2 Degradation Reveals a New Vulnerability for p53-Inactivated Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancer Discov 2023; 13:1210-1229. [PMID: 36734633 PMCID: PMC10164114 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-22-1131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) frequently inactivate p53, increasing their aggressiveness and therapy resistance. We identified an unexpected protein vulnerability in p53-inactivated TNBC and designed a new PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera (PROTAC) to target it. Our PROTAC selectively targets MDM2 for proteasome-mediated degradation with high-affinity binding and VHL recruitment. MDM2 loss in p53 mutant/deleted TNBC cells in two-dimensional/three-dimensional culture and TNBC patient explants, including relapsed tumors, causes apoptosis while sparing normal cells. Our MDM2-PROTAC is stable in vivo, and treatment of TNBC xenograft-bearing mice demonstrates tumor on-target efficacy with no toxicity to normal cells, significantly extending survival. Transcriptomic analyses revealed upregulation of p53 family target genes. Investigations showed activation and a required role for TAp73 to mediate MDM2-PROTAC-induced apoptosis. Our data, challenging the current MDM2/p53 paradigm, show MDM2 is required for p53-inactivated TNBC cell survival, and PROTAC-targeted MDM2 degradation is an innovative potential therapeutic strategy for TNBC and superior to existing MDM2 inhibitors. SIGNIFICANCE p53-inactivated TNBC is an aggressive, therapy-resistant, and lethal breast cancer subtype. We designed a new compound targeting an unexpected vulnerability we identified in TNBC. Our MDM2-targeted degrader kills p53-inactivated TNBC cells, highlighting the requirement for MDM2 in TNBC cell survival and as a new therapeutic target for this disease. See related commentary by Peuget and Selivanova, p. 1043. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1027.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare M. Adams
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ramkrishna Mitra
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Peter Michener
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Juan Palazzo
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Allen Chao
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Christine M. Eischen
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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4
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Baker IM, Smalley JP, Sabat KA, Hodgkinson JT, Cowley SM. Comprehensive Transcriptomic Analysis of Novel Class I HDAC Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs). Biochemistry 2023; 62:645-656. [PMID: 35948047 PMCID: PMC9910044 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes;HDAC1,2 and 3 form the catalytic engine of at least seven structurally distinct multiprotein complexes in cells. These molecular machines play a vital role in the regulation of chromatin accessibility and gene activity via the removal of acetyl moieties from lysine residues within histone tails. Their inhibition via small molecule inhibitors has beneficial effects in a number of disease types, including the clinical treatment of hematological cancers. We have previously reported a library of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) incorporating a benzamide-based HDAC ligand (from CI-994), with an alkyl linker and ligand for the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3 ubiquitin ligase that degrade HDAC1-3 at submicromolar concentrations. Here we report the addition of two novel PROTACs (JPS026 and JPS027), which utilize a ligand for the cellular inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family of E3 ligases. We found that both VHL (JPS004)- and IAP (JPS026)-based PROTACs degrade HDAC1-3 and induce histone acetylation to a similar degree. However, JPS026 is significantly more potent at inducing cell death in HCT116 cells than is JPS004. RNA sequencing analysis of PROTAC-treated HCT116 cells showed a distinct gene expression signature in which cell cycle and DNA replication machinery are repressed. Components of the mTORC1 and -2 complexes were also reduced, leading to an increase in FOXO3 and downstream target genes that regulate autophagy and apoptosis. In summary, a novel combination of HDAC and IAP ligands generates a PROTAC with a potent ability to stimulate apoptosis and differential gene expression in human cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- India M Baker
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
| | - Joshua P Smalley
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
| | - Khadija A Sabat
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
| | - James T Hodgkinson
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
| | - Shaun M Cowley
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
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5
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Zhao HY, Xin M, Zhang SQ. Progress of small molecules for targeted protein degradation: PROTACs and other technologies. Drug Dev Res 2023; 84:337-394. [PMID: 36606428 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed the rapid development of targeted protein degradation (TPD), especially proteolysis targeting chimeras. These degraders have manifested many advantages over small molecule inhibitors. To date, a huge number of degraders have been excavated against over 70 disease-related targets. In particular, degraders against estrogen receptor and androgen receptor have crowded into phase II clinical trial. TPD technologies largely expand the scope of druggable targets, and provide powerful tools for addressing intractable problems that can not be tackled by traditional small molecule inhibitors. In this review, we mainly focus on the structures and biological activities of small molecule degraders as well as the elucidation of mechanisms of emerging TPD technologies. We also propose the challenges that exist in the TPD field at present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Yi Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Minhang Xin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - San-Qi Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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6
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Design and characterization of a heterobifunctional degrader of KEAP1. Redox Biol 2022; 59:102552. [PMID: 36473314 PMCID: PMC9720105 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) - nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) signaling pathway senses reactive oxygen species and regulates cellular oxidative stress. Inhibiting KEAP1 to activate the NRF2 antioxidant response has been proposed as a promising strategy to treat chronic diseases caused by oxidative stress. Here, we developed a proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) that depletes KEAP1 from cells through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. A previously developed KEAP1 inhibitor and thalidomide were incorporated in the heterobifunctional design of the PROTAC as ligands for KEAP1 and CRBN recruitment, respectively. Optimization of the chemical composition and linker length resulted in PROTAC 14 which exhibited potent KEAP1 degradation with low nanomolar DC50 in HEK293T (11 nM) and BEAS-2B (<1 nM) cell lines. Furthermore, PROTAC 14 increased the expression of NRF2 regulated antioxidant proteins and prevented cell death induced by reactive oxygen species. Together, these results established a blueprint for further development of KEAP1-targeted heterobifunctional degraders and will facilitate the study of the biological consequences of KEAP1 removal from cells. This approach represents an alternative therapeutic strategy to existing treatments for diseases caused by oxidative stress.
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7
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Park S, Kim D, Lee W, Cho JH, Kim S, Lee GS, Moon JH, Kim JA, Ha JD, Kim JH, Kim HJ. Discovery of pan-IAP degraders via a CRBN recruiting mechanism. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 245:114910. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Du G, Jiang J, Henning NJ, Safaee N, Koide E, Nowak RP, Donovan KA, Yoon H, You I, Yue H, Eleuteri NA, He Z, Li Z, Huang HT, Che J, Nabet B, Zhang T, Fischer ES, Gray NS. Exploring the target scope of KEAP1 E3 ligase-based PROTACs. Cell Chem Biol 2022; 29:1470-1481.e31. [PMID: 36070758 PMCID: PMC9588736 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) uses small molecules to recruit E3 ubiquitin ligases into the proximity of proteins of interest, inducing ubiquitination-dependent degradation. A major bottleneck in the TPD field is the lack of accessible E3 ligase ligands for developing degraders. To expand the E3 ligase toolbox, we sought to convert the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) inhibitor KI696 into a recruitment handle for several targets. While we were able to generate KEAP1-recruiting degraders of BET family and murine focal adhesion kinase (FAK), we discovered that the target scope of KEAP1 was narrow, as targets easily degraded using a cereblon (CRBN)-recruiting degrader were refractory to KEAP1-mediated degradation. Linking the KEAP1-binding ligand to a CRBN-binding ligand resulted in a molecule that induced degradation of KEAP1 but not CRBN. In sum, we characterize tool compounds to explore KEAP1-mediated ubiquitination and delineate the challenges of exploiting new E3 ligases for generating bivalent degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyan Du
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jie Jiang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nathaniel J Henning
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nozhat Safaee
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eriko Koide
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 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
| | - Katherine A Donovan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hojong Yoon
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Inchul You
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Hong Yue
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas A Eleuteri
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhixiang He
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhengnian Li
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Hubert T Huang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jianwei Che
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Behnam Nabet
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Tinghu Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 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.
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Melder FTI, Lindemann P, Welle A, Trouillet V, Heißler S, Nazaré M, Selbach M. Compound Interaction Screen on a Photoactivatable Cellulose Membrane (CISCM) Identifies Drug Targets. ChemMedChem 2022; 17:e202200346. [PMID: 35867055 PMCID: PMC9826412 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202200346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Identifying the protein targets of drugs is an important but tedious process. Existing proteomic approaches enable unbiased target identification but lack the throughput needed to screen larger compound libraries. Here, we present a compound interaction screen on a photoactivatable cellulose membrane (CISCM) that enables target identification of several drugs in parallel. To this end, we use diazirine-based undirected photoaffinity labeling (PAL) to immobilize compounds on cellulose membranes. Functionalized membranes are then incubated with protein extract and specific targets are identified via quantitative affinity purification and mass spectrometry. CISCM reliably identifies known targets of natural products in less than three hours of analysis time per compound. In summary, we show that combining undirected photoimmobilization of compounds on cellulose with quantitative interaction proteomics provides an efficient means to identify the targets of natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Teresa I. Melder
- Proteome Dynamics LabMax Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz AssociationRobert-Roessle-Str. 1013125BerlinGermany
| | - Peter Lindemann
- Medicinal ChemistryLeibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP)13125BerlinGermany
| | - Alexander Welle
- Institute of Functional Interfaces and Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility (KNMFi)Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 176344Eggenstein-LeopoldshafenGermany
| | - Vanessa Trouillet
- Institute for Applied Materials (IAM-ESS) and Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility (KNMFi)Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 176344Eggenstein-LeopoldshafenGermany
| | - Stefan Heißler
- Institute of Functional Interfaces and Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility (KNMFi)Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 176344Eggenstein-LeopoldshafenGermany
| | - Marc Nazaré
- Medicinal ChemistryLeibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP)13125BerlinGermany
| | - Matthias Selbach
- Proteome Dynamics LabMax Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz AssociationRobert-Roessle-Str. 1013125BerlinGermany
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10
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Diehl CJ, Ciulli A. Discovery of small molecule ligands for the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3 ligase and their use as inhibitors and PROTAC degraders. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:8216-8257. [PMID: 35983982 PMCID: PMC9528729 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00387b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) Cullin RING E3 ligase is an essential enzyme in the ubiquitin-proteasome system that recruits substrates such as the hypoxia inducible factor for ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway can be hijacked toward non-native neo-substrate proteins using proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), bifunctional molecules designed to simultaneously bind to an E3 ligase and a target protein to induce target ubiquitination and degradation. The availability of high-quality small-molecule ligands with good binding affinity for E3 ligases is fundamental for PROTAC development. Lack of good E3 ligase ligands as starting points to develop PROTAC degraders was initially a stumbling block to the development of the field. Herein, the journey towards the design of small-molecule ligands binding to VHL is presented. We cover the structure-based design of VHL ligands, their application as inhibitors in their own right, and their implementation into rationally designed, potent PROTAC degraders of various target proteins. We highlight the key findings and learnings that have provided strong foundations for the remarkable development of targeted protein degradation, and that offer a blueprint for designing new ligands for E3 ligases beyond VHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia J Diehl
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
| | - Alessio Ciulli
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
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11
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He M, Cao C, Ni Z, Liu Y, Song P, Hao S, He Y, Sun X, Rao Y. PROTACs: great opportunities for academia and industry (an update from 2020 to 2021). Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:181. [PMID: 35680848 PMCID: PMC9178337 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-00999-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) technology is a new protein-degradation strategy that has emerged in recent years. It uses bifunctional small molecules to induce the ubiquitination and degradation of target proteins through the ubiquitin–proteasome system. PROTACs can not only be used as potential clinical treatments for diseases such as cancer, immune disorders, viral infections, and neurodegenerative diseases, but also provide unique chemical knockdown tools for biological research in a catalytic, reversible, and rapid manner. In 2019, our group published a review article “PROTACs: great opportunities for academia and industry” in the journal, summarizing the representative compounds of PROTACs reported before the end of 2019. In the past 2 years, the entire field of protein degradation has experienced rapid development, including not only a large increase in the number of research papers on protein-degradation technology but also a rapid increase in the number of small-molecule degraders that have entered the clinical and will enter the clinical stage. In addition to PROTAC and molecular glue technology, other new degradation technologies are also developing rapidly. In this article, we mainly summarize and review the representative PROTACs of related targets published in 2020–2021 to present to researchers the exciting developments in the field of protein degradation. The problems that need to be solved in this field will also be briefly introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming He
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Chaoguo Cao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China.,Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhihao Ni
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yongbo Liu
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Peilu Song
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Shuang Hao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yuna He
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Xiuyun Sun
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yu Rao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China. .,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 450001, Zhengzhou, China.
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12
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Park N, Marquez J, Pham TK, Ko TH, Youm JB, Kim M, Choi SH, Moon J, Flores J, Ko KS, Rhee BD, Shimizu I, Minamino T, Du Ha J, Hwang JY, Yang SJ, Park CS, Kim HK, Han J. Cereblon contributes to cardiac dysfunction by degrading Cav1.2α. Eur Heart J 2022; 43:1973-1989. [PMID: 35190817 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Cereblon (CRBN) is a substrate receptor of the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex that was reported to target ion channel proteins. L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel (LTCC) density and dysfunction is a critical player in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, the underlying cellular mechanisms by which CRBN regulates LTCC subtype Cav1.2α during cardiac dysfunction remain unclear. Here, we explored the role of CRBN in HFrEF by investigating the direct regulatory role of CRBN in Cav1.2α activity and examining how it can serve as a target to address myocardial dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS Cardiac tissues from HFrEF patients exhibited increased levels of CRBN compared with controls. In vivo and ex vivo studies demonstrated that whole-body CRBN knockout (CRBN-/-) and cardiac-specific knockout mice (Crbnfl/fl/Myh6Cre+) exhibited enhanced cardiac contractility with increased LTCC current (ICaL) compared with their respective controls, which was modulated by the direct interaction of CRBN with Cav1.2α. Mechanistically, the Lon domain of CRBN directly interacted with the N-terminal of Cav1.2α. Increasing CRBN levels enhanced the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of Cav1.2α and decreased ICaL. In contrast, genetic or pharmacological depletion of CRBN via TD-165, a novel PROTAC-based CRBN degrader, increased surface expression of Cav1.2α and enhanced ICaL. Low CRBN levels protected the heart against cardiomyopathy in vivo. CONCLUSION Cereblon selectively degrades Cav1.2α, which in turn facilitates cardiac dysfunction. A targeted approach or an efficient method of reducing CRBN levels could serve as a promising strategy for HFrEF therapeutics. KEY QUESTION KEY FINDING TAKE-HOME MESSAGE Cereblon modulates cardiac function by altering Cav1.2α current density and CRBN-targeting therapy could serve as a novel strategy for future HFrEF therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nammi Park
- Basic Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Jubert Marquez
- Basic Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Trong Kha Pham
- Basic Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hee Ko
- Basic Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Boum Youm
- Basic Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Kim
- Basic Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hak Choi
- Basic Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyoung Moon
- Basic Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Jessa Flores
- Basic Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Soo Ko
- Basic Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoung Doo Rhee
- Basic Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Ippei Shimizu
- Department of Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Tohru Minamino
- Department of Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Jae Du Ha
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Yeon Hwang
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Joo Yang
- School of Life Sciences and Cell Logistics Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul-Seung Park
- School of Life Sciences and Cell Logistics Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoung Kyu Kim
- Basic Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Han
- Basic Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea
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13
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Sun Q, Wang S, Lv X. Research on stick–slip behavior and tribological properties of
EPDM
under various wear velocity conditions. POLYM INT 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pi.6381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Sun
- School of Mechanical Engineering Shenyang University of Technology China
| | - Shijie Wang
- School of Mechanical Engineering Shenyang University of Technology China
| | - Xiaoren Lv
- School of Mechanical Engineering Shenyang University of Technology China
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14
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Powell CE, Du G, Bushman JW, He Z, Zhang T, Fischer ES, Gray NS. Selective degradation-inducing probes for studying cereblon (CRBN) biology. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:1381-1390. [PMID: 34458741 PMCID: PMC8372211 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00382d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation represents a rapidly growing area in drug discovery and development. Moreover, small molecules that induce the targeted degradation of a given protein also represent an important addition to the chemical probes toolbox as these compounds can achieve selective protein knockdown, thus providing an approach that is orthogonal to genetic knockdowns. In order to develop degradation-inducing chemical probes for studying cereblon (CRBN) biology, we generated six CRBN-CRBN (homo-PROTAC) degraders and six CRBN-VHL (hetero-PROTAC) degraders. From these compounds we identified two potent and selective CRBN degraders (ZXH-4-130 and ZXH-4-137), both of which are CRBN-VHL compounds. We characterized these lead degraders by quantitative proteomics in five cell lines (MM1.S, Kelly, SK-N-DZ, HEK293T, and MOLT-4) and observed high selectivity for CRBN in all cell lines. Furthermore, we directly compared our compounds to current lead CRBN degraders and demonstrated how these probes can be used as chemical knockdown reagents for studying CRBN-dependent processes. Overall, our work provides a roadmap for thorough degrader characterization by combination western and proteomic analysis, as illustrated by the identification of ZXH-4-130 and ZXH-4-137 as CRBN-knockdown tool compounds suitable for cell-based studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea E Powell
- Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts 02115 USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Boston Massachusetts 02215 USA
| | - Guangyan Du
- Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts 02115 USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Boston Massachusetts 02215 USA
| | - Jonathan W Bushman
- Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts 02115 USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Boston Massachusetts 02215 USA
| | - Zhixiang He
- Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts 02115 USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Boston Massachusetts 02215 USA
| | - Tinghu Zhang
- Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts 02115 USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Boston Massachusetts 02215 USA
| | - Eric S Fischer
- Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts 02115 USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Boston Massachusetts 02215 USA
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts 02115 USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Boston Massachusetts 02215 USA
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15
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Park S, Kim K, Haam K, Ban HS, Kim JA, Park BC, Park SG, Kim S, Kim JH. Long-term depletion of cereblon induces mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer cells. BMB Rep 2021. [PMID: 33408001 PMCID: PMC8249880 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2021.54.6.218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cereblon (CRBN) is a multi-functional protein that acts as a sub-strate receptor of the E3 ligase complex and a molecular chaperone. While CRBN is proposed to function in mitochondria, its specific roles are yet to be established. Here, we showed that knockdown of CRBN triggers oxidative stress and calcium overload in mitochondria, leading to disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. Notably, long-term CRBN depletion using PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera (PROTAC) induced irreversible mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in cell death. Our collective findings indicate that CRBN is required for mitochondrial homeostasis in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seulki Park
- Disease Target Structure Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Kidae Kim
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Center for Genome Science, National Institute of Health, KCDC, Cheongju 28159, Korea
| | - Keeok Haam
- Biotherapeutics Translational Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Hyun Seung Ban
- Biotherapeutics Translational Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Jung-Ae Kim
- Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
- Personalized Genomic Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Byoung Chul Park
- Disease Target Structure Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Proteome Structural Biology, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Sung Goo Park
- Disease Target Structure Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Sunhong Kim
- Drug Discovery Center, LG Chem, Seoul 07796, Korea
| | - Jeong-Hoon Kim
- Disease Target Structure Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
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16
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Wang R, Ascanelli C, Abdelbaki A, Fung A, Rasmusson T, Michaelides I, Roberts K, Lindon C. Selective targeting of non-centrosomal AURKA functions through use of a targeted protein degradation tool. Commun Biol 2021; 4:640. [PMID: 34050235 PMCID: PMC8163823 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02158-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation tools are becoming a new therapeutic modality, allowing small molecule ligands to be reformulated as heterobifunctional molecules (PROteolysis Targeting Chimeras, PROTACs) that recruit ubiquitin ligases to targets of interest, leading to ubiquitination and destruction of the targets. Several PROTACs against targets of clinical interest have been described, but detailed descriptions of the cell biology modulated by PROTACs are missing from the literature. Here we describe the functional characterization of a PROTAC derived from AURKA inhibitor MLN8237 (alisertib). We demonstrate efficient and specific destruction of both endogenous and overexpressed AURKA by Cereblon-directed PROTACs. At the subcellular level, we find differential targeting of AURKA on the mitotic spindle compared to centrosomes. The phenotypic consequences of PROTAC treatment are therefore distinct from those mediated by alisertib, and in mitotic cells differentially regulate centrosome- and chromatin- based microtubule spindle assembly pathways. In interphase cells PROTAC-mediated clearance of non-centrosomal AURKA modulates the cytoplasmic role played by AURKA in mitochondrial dynamics, whilst the centrosomal pool is refractory to PROTAC-mediated clearance. Our results point to differential sensitivity of subcellular pools of substrate, governed by substrate conformation or localization-dependent accessibility to PROTAC action, a phenomenon not previously described for this new class of degrader compounds. Wang et al develop tools to target the mitotic regulator AURKA by synthesising PROTACs based on the inhibitor MLN8237. They find that the new PROTAC compound efficiently clears cytoplasmic and mitotic spindle-associated AURKA but does not eliminate AURKA activity from centrosomes, demonstrating the possibility of targeting subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Ahmed Abdelbaki
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alex Fung
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tim Rasmusson
- Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK.,Bristol Myers Squibb, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Catherine Lindon
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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17
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Qi SM, Dong J, Xu ZY, Cheng XD, Zhang WD, Qin JJ. PROTAC: An Effective Targeted Protein Degradation Strategy for Cancer Therapy. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:692574. [PMID: 34025443 PMCID: PMC8138175 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.692574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimeric (PROTAC) technology is an effective endogenous protein degradation tool developed in recent years that can ubiquitinate the target proteins through the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to achieve an effect on tumor growth. A number of literature studies on PROTAC technology have proved an insight into the feasibility of PROTAC technology to degrade target proteins. Additionally, the first oral PROTACs (ARV-110 and ARV-471) have shown encouraging results in clinical trials for prostate and breast cancer treatment, which inspires a greater enthusiasm for PROTAC research. Here we focus on the structures and mechanisms of PROTACs and describe several classes of effective PROTAC degraders based on E3 ligases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Min Qi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinyun Dong
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Yuan Xu
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiang-Dong Cheng
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei-Dong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiang-Jiang Qin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.,The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
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18
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Kannt A, Đikić I. Expanding the arsenal of E3 ubiquitin ligases for proximity-induced protein degradation. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:1014-1031. [PMID: 33945791 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Efficacy and selectivity of molecules inducing protein degradation depend on their affinity to the target protein but also on the type of E3 ubiquitin ligase that is recruited to trigger proteasomal degradation. While tremendous progress has been made on the former, the latter-the arsenal of E3 ligases that can be hijacked for targeted protein degradation-is still largely unexplored. Only about 2% of the more than 600 E3 ligases have been utilized to date. Exploiting additional E3 ligases that are, for example, selectively expressed in specific tissues or cells, or regulated under certain conditions, can considerably broaden the applicability of molecular degraders as a therapeutic modality. Here, we provide an overview of major classes of E3 ligases, review the enzymes that have been exploited for induced protein degradation and approaches used to identify or design E3 ligands, and highlight challenges and opportunities for targeting new E3 ligases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimo Kannt
- Fraunhofer Institute of Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Ivan Đikić
- Fraunhofer Institute of Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Institute of Biochemistry II, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 15, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue Straße 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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19
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Ishida T, Ciulli A. E3 Ligase Ligands for PROTACs: How They Were Found and How to Discover New Ones. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2021; 26:484-502. [PMID: 33143537 PMCID: PMC8013866 DOI: 10.1177/2472555220965528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Bifunctional degrader molecules, also called proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), are a new modality of chemical tools and potential therapeutics to understand and treat human disease. A required PROTAC component is a ligand binding to an E3 ubiquitin ligase, which is then joined to another ligand binding to a protein to be degraded via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. The advent of nonpeptidic small-molecule E3 ligase ligands, notably for von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) and cereblon (CRBN), revolutionized the field and ushered in the design of drug-like PROTACs with potent and selective degradation activity. A first wave of PROTAC drugs are now undergoing clinical development in cancer, and the field is seeking to extend the repertoire of chemistries that allow hijacking new E3 ligases to improve the scope of targeted protein degradation.Here, we briefly review how traditional E3 ligase ligands were discovered, and then outline approaches and ligands that have been recently used to discover new E3 ligases for PROTACs. We will then take an outlook at current and future strategies undertaken that invoke either target-based screening or phenotypic-based approaches, including the use of DNA-encoded libraries (DELs), display technologies and cyclic peptides, smaller molecular glue degraders, and covalent warhead ligands. These approaches are ripe for expanding the chemical space of PROTACs and usher in the advent of other emerging bifunctional modalities of proximity-based pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasuku Ishida
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Alessio Ciulli
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
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20
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Troup RI, Fallan C, Baud MGJ. Current strategies for the design of PROTAC linkers: a critical review. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2020; 1:273-312. [PMID: 36046485 PMCID: PMC9400730 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2020.00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are heterobifunctional molecules consisting of two ligands; an “anchor” to bind to an E3 ubiquitin ligase and a “warhead” to bind to a protein of interest, connected by a chemical linker. Targeted protein degradation by PROTACs has emerged as a new modality for the knock down of a range of proteins, with the first agents now reaching clinical evaluation. It has become increasingly clear that the length and composition of the linker play critical roles on the physicochemical properties and bioactivity of PROTACs. While linker design has historically received limited attention, the PROTAC field is evolving rapidly and currently undergoing an important shift from synthetically tractable alkyl and polyethylene glycol to more sophisticated functional linkers. This promises to unlock a wealth of novel PROTAC agents with enhanced bioactivity for therapeutic intervention. Here, the authors provide a timely overview of the diverse linker classes in the published literature, along with their underlying design principles and overall influence on the properties and bioactivity of the associated PROTACs. Finally, the authors provide a critical analysis of current strategies for PROTAC assembly. The authors highlight important limitations associated with the traditional “trial and error” approach around linker design and selection, and suggest potential future avenues to further inform rational linker design and accelerate the identification of optimised PROTACs. In particular, the authors believe that advances in computational and structural methods will play an essential role to gain a better understanding of the structure and dynamics of PROTAC ternary complexes, and will be essential to address the current gaps in knowledge associated with PROTAC design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert I. Troup
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK
| | - Charlene Fallan
- Medicinal Chemistry, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, CB4 0WG Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthias G. J. Baud
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK
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21
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Chen Y, Jin J. The application of ubiquitin ligases in the PROTAC drug design. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2020; 52:776-790. [PMID: 32506133 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmaa053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein ubiquitylation plays important roles in many biological activities. Protein ubiquitylation is a unique process that is mainly controlled by ubiquitin ligases. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is the main process to degrade short-lived and unwanted proteins in eukaryotes. Many components in the UPS are attractive drug targets. Recent studies indicated that ubiquitin ligases can be employed as tools in proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) for drug discovery. In this review article, we will discuss the recent progress of the application of ubiquitin ligases in the PROTAC drug design. We will also discuss advantages and existing problems of PROTACs. Moreover, we will propose a few principles for selecting ubiquitin ligases in PROTAC applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Chen
- Life Science Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jianping Jin
- Life Science Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Drug Evaluation and Clinical Research, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
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22
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Yang SJ, Jeon SJ, Van Nguyen T, Deshaies RJ, Park CS, Lee KM. Ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of AMPK gamma subunit by Cereblon inhibits AMPK activity. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2020; 1867:118729. [PMID: 32333926 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Cereblon (CRBN), a substrate receptor for Cullin-ring E3 ubiquitin ligase (CRL), is a major target protein of immunomodulatory drugs. An earlier study demonstrated that CRBN directly interacts with the catalytic α subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a master regulator of energy homeostasis, down-regulating the enzymatic activity of AMPK. However, it is not clear how CRBN modulates AMPK activity. To investigate the mechanism of CRBN-dependent AMPK inhibition, we measured protein levels of each AMPK subunit in brains, livers, lungs, hearts, spleens, skeletal muscles, testes, kidneys, and embryonic fibroblasts from wild-type and Crbn-/- mice. Protein levels and stability of the regulatory AMPKγ subunit were increased in Crbn-/- mice. Increased stability of AMPKγ in Crbn-/- MEFs was dramatically reduced by exogenous expression of Crbn. In wild-type MEFs, the proteasomal inhibitor MG132 blocked degradation of AMPKγ. We also found that CRL4CRBN directly ubiquitinated AMPKγ. Taken together, these findings suggest that CRL4CRBN regulates AMPK through ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of AMPKγ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Joo Yang
- School of Life Sciences and Aging Research Institute, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Je Jeon
- School of Life Sciences and Aging Research Institute, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Thang Van Nguyen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Raymond J Deshaies
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Box 114-96, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Chul-Seung Park
- School of Life Sciences and Aging Research Institute, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kwang Min Lee
- Department of Life Science and Environmental Biochemistry, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Republic of Korea.
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