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Zhang C, Liu Y, Li G, Yang Z, Han C, Sun X, Sheng C, Ding K, Rao Y. Targeting the undruggables-the power of protein degraders. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2024; 69:1776-1797. [PMID: 38614856 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2024.03.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Undruggable targets typically refer to a class of therapeutic targets that are difficult to target through conventional methods or have not yet been targeted, but are of great clinical significance. According to statistics, over 80% of disease-related pathogenic proteins cannot be targeted by current conventional treatment methods. In recent years, with the advancement of basic research and new technologies, the development of various new technologies and mechanisms has brought new perspectives to overcome challenging drug targets. Among them, targeted protein degradation technology is a breakthrough drug development strategy for challenging drug targets. This technology can specifically identify target proteins and directly degrade pathogenic target proteins by utilizing the inherent protein degradation pathways within cells. This new form of drug development includes various types such as proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC), molecular glue, lysosome-targeting Chimaera (LYTAC), autophagosome-tethering compound (ATTEC), autophagy-targeting chimera (AUTAC), autophagy-targeting chimera (AUTOTAC), degrader-antibody conjugate (DAC). This article systematically summarizes the application of targeted protein degradation technology in the development of degraders for challenging drug targets. Finally, the article looks forward to the future development direction and application prospects of targeted protein degradation technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhang
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yongbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Guangchen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhouli Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Chi Han
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiuyun Sun
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Chunquan Sheng
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Ke Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Yu Rao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China.
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2
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Gill JK, Shaw GS. Using Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) to Understand the Ubiquitination Landscape. Chembiochem 2024:e202400193. [PMID: 38632088 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400193] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a fluorescence technique that allows quantitative measurement of protein interactions, kinetics and dynamics. This review covers the use of FRET to study the structures and mechanisms of ubiquitination and related proteins. We survey FRET assays that have been developed where donor and acceptor fluorophores are placed on E1, E2 or E3 enzymes and ubiquitin (Ub) to monitor steady-state and real-time transfer of Ub through the ubiquitination cascade. Specialized FRET probes placed on Ub and Ub-like proteins have been developed to monitor Ub removal by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) that result in a loss of a FRET signal upon cleavage of the FRET probes. FRET has also been used to understand conformational changes in large complexes such as multimeric E3 ligases and the proteasome, frequently using sophisticated single molecule methods. Overall, FRET is a powerful tool to help unravel the intricacies of the complex ubiquitination system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jashanjot Kaur Gill
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A5C1
| | - Gary S Shaw
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A5C1
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3
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Poirson J, Cho H, Dhillon A, Haider S, Imrit AZ, Lam MHY, Alerasool N, Lacoste J, Mizan L, Wong C, Gingras AC, Schramek D, Taipale M. Proteome-scale discovery of protein degradation and stabilization effectors. Nature 2024; 628:878-886. [PMID: 38509365 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07224-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation and stabilization are promising therapeutic modalities because of their potency, versatility and their potential to expand the druggable target space1,2. However, only a few of the hundreds of E3 ligases and deubiquitinases in the human proteome have been harnessed for this purpose, which substantially limits the potential of the approach. Moreover, there may be other protein classes that could be exploited for protein stabilization or degradation3-5, but there are currently no methods that can identify such effector proteins in a scalable and unbiased manner. Here we established a synthetic proteome-scale platform to functionally identify human proteins that can promote the degradation or stabilization of a target protein in a proximity-dependent manner. Our results reveal that the human proteome contains a large cache of effectors of protein stability. The approach further enabled us to comprehensively compare the activities of human E3 ligases and deubiquitinases, identify and characterize non-canonical protein degraders and stabilizers and establish that effectors have vastly different activities against diverse targets. Notably, the top degraders were more potent against multiple therapeutically relevant targets than the currently used E3 ligases cereblon and VHL. Our study provides a functional catalogue of stability effectors for targeted protein degradation and stabilization and highlights the potential of induced proximity screens for the discovery of new proximity-dependent protein modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juline Poirson
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hanna Cho
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Akashdeep Dhillon
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shahan Haider
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ahmad Zoheyr Imrit
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mandy Hiu Yi Lam
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nader Alerasool
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessica Lacoste
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lamisa Mizan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cassandra Wong
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anne-Claude Gingras
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Schramek
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mikko Taipale
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Holdgate GA, Bardelle C, Berry SK, Lanne A, Cuomo ME. Screening for molecular glues - Challenges and opportunities. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2024; 29:100136. [PMID: 38104659 DOI: 10.1016/j.slasd.2023.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Molecular glues are small molecules, typically smaller than PROTACs, and usually with improved physicochemical properties that aim to stabilise the interaction between two proteins. Most often this approach is used to improve or induce an interaction between the target and an E3 ligase, but other interactions which stabilise interactions to increase activity or to inhibit binding to a natural effector have also been demonstrated. This review will describe the effects of induced proximity, discuss current methods used to identify molecular glues and introduce approaches that could be adapted for molecular glue screening.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine Bardelle
- High-throughput Screening, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, UK
| | - Sophia K Berry
- High-throughput Screening, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, UK
| | - Alice Lanne
- High-throughput Screening, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, UK
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5
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Jiang W, Jiang Y, Luo Y, Qiao W, Yang T. Facilitating the development of molecular glues: Opportunities from serendipity and rational design. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 263:115950. [PMID: 37984298 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115950] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Molecular glues can specifically induce interactions between two or more proteins to modulate biological functions and have been proven to be a powerful therapeutic modality in drug discovery. It plays a variety of vital roles in several biological processes, such as complex stabilization, interactome modulation and transporter inhibition, thus enabling challenging therapeutic targets to be druggable. Most known molecular glues were identified serendipitously, such as IMiDs, auxin, and rapamycin. In recent years, more rational strategies were explored with the development of chemical biology and a deep understanding of the interaction between molecular glues and proteins, which led to the rational discovery of several molecular glues. Thus, in this review, we aim to highlight the discovery strategies of molecular glues from three aspects: serendipitous discovery, screening methods and rational design principles. We expect that this review will provide a reasonable reference and insights for the discovery of molecular glues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqing Jiang
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yunhan Jiang
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Cardiovascular Surgery Research Laboratory, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Youfu Luo
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Wenliang Qiao
- Lung Cancer Center, Laboratory of Lung Cancer, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Tao Yang
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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6
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Kamra A, Das S, Bhatt P, Solra M, Maity T, Rana S. A transient vesicular glue for amplification and temporal regulation of biocatalytic reaction networks. Chem Sci 2023; 14:9267-9282. [PMID: 37712020 PMCID: PMC10498679 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc00195d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulation of enzyme activity and biocatalytic cascades on compartmentalized cellular components is key to the adaptation of cellular processes such as signal transduction and metabolism in response to varying external conditions. Synthetic molecular glues have enabled enzyme inhibition and regulation of protein-protein interactions. So far, all the molecular glue systems based on covalent interactions operated under steady-state conditions. To emulate dynamic biological processes under dissipative conditions, we introduce herein a transient supramolecular glue with a controllable lifetime. The transient system uses multivalent supramolecular interactions between guanidinium group-bearing surfactants and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), resulting in bilayer vesicle structures. Unlike the conventional chemical agents for dissipative assemblies, ATP here plays the dual role of providing a structural component for the assembly as well as presenting active functional groups to "glue" enzymes on the surface. While gluing of the enzymes on the vesicles achieves augmented catalysis, oscillation of ATP concentration allows temporal control of the catalytic activities similar to the dissipative cellular nanoreactors. We further demonstrate temporal upregulation and control of complex biocatalytic reaction networks on the vesicles. Altogether, the temporal activation of biocatalytic cascades on the dissipative vesicular glue presents an adaptable and dynamic system emulating heterogeneous cellular processes, opening up avenues for effective protocell construction and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisha Kamra
- Materials Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science C.V. Raman Road Bangalore 560012 Karnataka India +9180-22932914
| | - Sourav Das
- Materials Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science C.V. Raman Road Bangalore 560012 Karnataka India +9180-22932914
| | - Preeti Bhatt
- Materials Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science C.V. Raman Road Bangalore 560012 Karnataka India +9180-22932914
| | - Manju Solra
- Materials Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science C.V. Raman Road Bangalore 560012 Karnataka India +9180-22932914
| | - Tanmoy Maity
- Materials Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science C.V. Raman Road Bangalore 560012 Karnataka India +9180-22932914
| | - Subinoy Rana
- Materials Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science C.V. Raman Road Bangalore 560012 Karnataka India +9180-22932914
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7
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Dewey JA, Delalande C, Azizi SA, Lu V, Antonopoulos D, Babnigg G. Molecular Glue Discovery: Current and Future Approaches. J Med Chem 2023; 66:9278-9296. [PMID: 37437222 PMCID: PMC10805529 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The intracellular interactions of biomolecules can be maneuvered to redirect signaling, reprogram the cell cycle, or decrease infectivity using only a few dozen atoms. Such "molecular glues," which can drive both novel and known interactions between protein partners, represent an enticing therapeutic strategy. Here, we review the methods and approaches that have led to the identification of small-molecule molecular glues. We first classify current FDA-approved molecular glues to facilitate the selection of discovery methods. We then survey two broad discovery method strategies, where we highlight the importance of factors such as experimental conditions, software packages, and genetic tools for success. We hope that this curation of methodologies for directed discovery will inspire diverse research efforts targeting a multitude of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A Dewey
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Clémence Delalande
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Saara-Anne Azizi
- Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Vivian Lu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Dionysios Antonopoulos
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Gyorgy Babnigg
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
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8
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Liu X, Ciulli A. Proximity-Based Modalities for Biology and Medicine. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:1269-1284. [PMID: 37521793 PMCID: PMC10375889 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Molecular proximity orchestrates biological function, and blocking existing proximities is an established therapeutic strategy. By contrast, strengthening or creating neoproximity with chemistry enables modulation of biological processes with high selectivity and has the potential to substantially expand the target space. A plethora of proximity-based modalities to target proteins via diverse approaches have recently emerged, opening opportunities for biopharmaceutical innovation. This Outlook outlines the diverse mechanisms and molecules based on induced proximity, including protein degraders, blockers, and stabilizers, inducers of protein post-translational modifications, and agents for cell therapy, and discusses opportunities and challenges that the field must address to mature and unlock translation in biology and medicine.
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9
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Xue Y, Bolinger AA, Zhou J. Novel approaches to targeted protein degradation technologies in drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:467-483. [PMID: 36895136 PMCID: PMC11089573 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2187777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Target protein degradation (TPD) provides a novel therapeutic modality, other than inhibition, through the direct depletion of target proteins. Two primary human protein homeostasis mechanisms are exploited: the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and the lysosomal system. TPD technologies based on these two systems are progressing at an impressive pace. AREAS COVERED This review focuses on the TPD strategies based on UPS and lysosomal system, mainly classified into three types: Molecular Glue (MG), PROteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC), and lysosome-mediated TPD. Starting with a brief background introduction of each strategy, exciting examples and perspectives on these novel approaches are provided. EXPERT OPINION MGs and PROTACs are two major UPS-based TPD strategies that have been extensively investigated in the past decade. Despite some clinical trials, several critical issues remain, among which is emphasized by the limitation of targets. Recently developed lysosomal system-based approaches provide alternative solutions for TPD beyond UPS' capability. The newly emerging novel approaches may partially address issues that have long plagued researchers, such as low potency, poor cell permeability, on-/off-target toxicity, and delivery efficiency. Comprehensive considerations for the rational design of protein degraders and continuous efforts to seek effective solutions are imperative to advance these strategies into clinical medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xue
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Andrew A. Bolinger
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Jia Zhou
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
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10
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Alexander-Howden B, Zhang L, van der Sloot AM, Tollis S, St-Cyr DJ, Sicheri F, Bird AP, Tyers M, Lyst MJ. A screen for MeCP2-TBL1 interaction inhibitors using a luminescence-based assay. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3868. [PMID: 36890145 PMCID: PMC9995496 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29915-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the molecular pathology of neurodevelopmental disorders should aid the development of therapies for these conditions. In MeCP2 duplication syndrome (MDS)-a severe autism spectrum disorder-neuronal dysfunction is caused by increased levels of MeCP2. MeCP2 is a nuclear protein that binds to methylated DNA and recruits the nuclear co-repressor (NCoR) complex to chromatin via an interaction with the WD repeat-containing proteins TBL1 and TBLR1. The peptide motif in MeCP2 that binds to TBL1/TBLR1 is essential for the toxicity of excess MeCP2 in animal models of MDS, suggesting that small molecules capable of disrupting this interaction might be useful therapeutically. To facilitate the search for such compounds, we devised a simple and scalable NanoLuc luciferase complementation assay for measuring the interaction of MeCP2 with TBL1/TBLR1. The assay allowed excellent separation between positive and negative controls, and had low signal variance (Z-factor = 0.85). We interrogated compound libraries using this assay in combination with a counter-screen based on luciferase complementation by the two subunits of protein kinase A (PKA). Using this dual screening approach, we identified candidate inhibitors of the interaction between MeCP2 and TBL1/TBLR1. This work demonstrates the feasibility of future screens of large compound collections, which we anticipate will enable the development of small molecule therapeutics to ameliorate MDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Alexander-Howden
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Li Zhang
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Almer M van der Sloot
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, 6666 Rue Saint-Urbain, Montréal, QC, H2S 3H1, Canada
| | - Sylvain Tollis
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, 70210, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Daniel J St-Cyr
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada
- X-Chem Inc, 7171 Frederick-Banting, Montréal, QC, H4S 1Z9, Canada
| | - Frank Sicheri
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Adrian P Bird
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK.
| | - Mike Tyers
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada.
- The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
| | - Matthew J Lyst
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK.
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11
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Rui H, Ashton KS, Min J, Wang C, Potts PR. Protein-protein interfaces in molecular glue-induced ternary complexes: classification, characterization, and prediction. RSC Chem Biol 2023; 4:192-215. [PMID: 36908699 PMCID: PMC9994104 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00207h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular glues are a class of small molecules that stabilize the interactions between proteins. Naturally occurring molecular glues are present in many areas of biology where they serve as central regulators of signaling pathways. Importantly, several clinical compounds act as molecular glue degraders that stabilize interactions between E3 ubiquitin ligases and target proteins, leading to their degradation. Molecular glues hold promise as a new generation of therapeutic agents, including those molecular glue degraders that can redirect the protein degradation machinery in a precise way. However, rational discovery of molecular glues is difficult in part due to the lack of understanding of the protein-protein interactions they stabilize. In this review, we summarize the structures of known molecular glue-induced ternary complexes and the interface properties. Detailed analysis shows different mechanisms of ternary structure formation. Additionally, we also review computational approaches for predicting protein-protein interfaces and highlight the promises and challenges. This information will ultimately help inform future approaches for rational molecular glue discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Rui
- Center for Research Acceleration by Digital Innovation, Amgen Research Thousand Oaks CA 91320 USA
| | - Kate S Ashton
- Medicinal Chemistry, Amgen Research Thousand Oaks CA 91320 USA
| | - Jaeki Min
- Induced Proximity Platform, Amgen Research Thousand Oaks CA 91320 USA
| | - Connie Wang
- Digital, Technology & Innovation, Amgen Thousand Oaks CA 91320 USA
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12
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From seeds to trees: how E2 enzymes grow ubiquitin chains. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:353-362. [PMID: 36645006 PMCID: PMC9987950 DOI: 10.1042/bst20220880] [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: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Modification of proteins by ubiquitin is a highly regulated process that plays a critical role in eukaryotes, from the construction of signalling platforms to the control of cell division. Aberrations in ubiquitin transfer are associated with many diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. The ubiquitin machinery generates a rich code on substrate proteins, spanning from single ubiquitin modifications to polyubiquitin chains with diverse linkage types. Central to this process are the E2 enzymes, which often determine the exact nature of the ubiquitin code. The focus of this mini-review is on the molecular details of how E2 enzymes can initiate and grow ubiquitin chains. In particular, recent developments and biochemical breakthroughs that help explain how the degradative E2 enzymes, Ube2s, Ube2k, and Ube2r, generate complex ubiquitin chains with exquisite specificity will be discussed.
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13
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Duran-Frigola M, Cigler M, Winter GE. Advancing Targeted Protein Degradation via Multiomics Profiling and Artificial Intelligence. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:2711-2732. [PMID: 36706315 PMCID: PMC9912273 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c11098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Only around 20% of the human proteome is considered to be druggable with small-molecule antagonists. This leaves some of the most compelling therapeutic targets outside the reach of ligand discovery. The concept of targeted protein degradation (TPD) promises to overcome some of these limitations. In brief, TPD is dependent on small molecules that induce the proximity between a protein of interest (POI) and an E3 ubiquitin ligase, causing ubiquitination and degradation of the POI. In this perspective, we want to reflect on current challenges in the field, and discuss how advances in multiomics profiling, artificial intelligence, and machine learning (AI/ML) will be vital in overcoming them. The presented roadmap is discussed in the context of small-molecule degraders but is equally applicable for other emerging proximity-inducing modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miquel Duran-Frigola
- CeMM
Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of
Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria,Ersilia
Open Source Initiative, 28 Belgrave Road, CB1 3DE, Cambridge, United Kingdom,
| | - Marko Cigler
- CeMM
Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of
Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg E. Winter
- CeMM
Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of
Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria,
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Nussinov R, Zhang M, Maloney R, Liu Y, Tsai CJ, Jang H. Allostery: Allosteric Cancer Drivers and Innovative Allosteric Drugs. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167569. [PMID: 35378118 PMCID: PMC9398924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Here, we discuss the principles of allosteric activating mutations, propagation downstream of the signals that they prompt, and allosteric drugs, with examples from the Ras signaling network. We focus on Abl kinase where mutations shift the landscape toward the active, imatinib binding-incompetent conformation, likely resulting in the high affinity ATP outcompeting drug binding. Recent pharmacological innovation extends to allosteric inhibitor (GNF-5)-linked PROTAC, targeting Bcr-Abl1 myristoylation site, and broadly, allosteric heterobifunctional degraders that destroy targets, rather than inhibiting them. Designed chemical linkers in bifunctional degraders can connect the allosteric ligand that binds the target protein and the E3 ubiquitin ligase warhead anchor. The physical properties and favored conformational state of the engineered linker can precisely coordinate the distance and orientation between the target and the recruited E3. Allosteric PROTACs, noncompetitive molecular glues, and bitopic ligands, with covalent links of allosteric ligands and orthosteric warheads, increase the effective local concentration of productively oriented and placed ligands. Through covalent chemical or peptide linkers, allosteric drugs can collaborate with competitive drugs, degrader anchors, or other molecules of choice, driving innovative drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Nussinov
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in the Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
| | - Mingzhen Zhang
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in the Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Ryan Maloney
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in the Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Yonglan Liu
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in the Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Chung-Jung Tsai
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in the Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Hyunbum Jang
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in the Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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15
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Sasso J, Tenchov R, Wang D, Johnson LS, Wang X, Zhou QA. Molecular Glues: The Adhesive Connecting Targeted Protein Degradation to the Clinic. Biochemistry 2022; 62:601-623. [PMID: 35856839 PMCID: PMC9910052 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation is a rapidly exploding drug discovery strategy that uses small molecules to recruit disease-causing proteins for rapid destruction mainly via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. It shows great potential for treating diseases such as cancer and infectious, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, especially for those with "undruggable" pathogenic protein targets. With the recent rise of the "molecular glue" type of protein degraders, which tighten and simplify the connection of an E3 ligase with a disease-causing protein for ubiquitination and subsequent degradation, new therapies for unmet medical needs are being designed and developed. Here we use data from the CAS Content Collection and the publication landscape of recent research on targeted protein degraders to provide insights into these molecules, with a special focus on molecular glues. We also outline the advantages of the molecular glues and summarize the advances in drug discovery practices for molecular glue degraders. We further provide a thorough review of drug candidates in targeted protein degradation through E3 ligase recruitment. Finally, we highlight the progression of molecular glues in drug discovery pipelines and their targeted diseases. Overall, our paper provides a comprehensive reference to support the future development of molecular glues in medicine.
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Investigation of the In Vivo, In Vitro, and In Silico Wound Healing Potential of Pinctada martensii Purified Peptides. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20070417. [PMID: 35877710 PMCID: PMC9325270 DOI: 10.3390/md20070417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies found that both oral and topical administration of enzymatic digestion products < 3 K Da ultrafiltration fractions of Pinctada martensii mantle (PMPs) had pro-healing effects. Thus, we further purified them by Sephadex-G25 and screened them by cellular assays to obtain Pinctada martensii purified peptides (PMPPs). In this study, we explored the mechanism of PMPPs on wound healing by in vivo, in vitro, and in silico experiments. LC-MS/MS results showed that PMPPs consisted of 33 peptides with molecular weights ranging from 758.43 to 2014.04 Da, and the characteristic peptide was Leu-Asp. The results of cellular assays showed that PMPPs promoted the proliferation of human skin fibroblasts (HSF) (135%) and human immortalized keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells (125%) very significantly at 12.5 μg/mL. The in vivo results showed that PMPPs could achieve scarless healing by inhibiting the inflammatory response, accelerating the epithelialization process, and regulating collagen I/III ratio. The optimal peptide sequence FAFQAEIAQLMS of PMPPs was screened for key protein receptors in wound healing (EGFR1, FGFR1, and MMP-1) with the help of molecular docking technique, which also showed to be the key pro-healing active peptide sequence. Therefore, it may provide a therapeutic strategy with great potential for wound healing.
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Domostegui A, Nieto-Barrado L, Perez-Lopez C, Mayor-Ruiz C. Chasing molecular glue degraders: screening approaches. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:5498-5517. [PMID: 35723413 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00197g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) govern all biological processes. Some small molecules modulate PPIs through induced protein proximity. In particular, molecular glue degraders are monovalent compounds that orchestrate interactions between a target protein and an E3 ubiquitin ligase, prompting the proteasomal degradation of the former. This and other pharmacological strategies of targeted protein degradation (e.g. proteolysis-targeting chimeras - PROTACs) overcome some limitations of traditional occupancy-based therapeutics. Here, we provide an overview of the "molecular glue" concept, with a special focus on natural and synthetic inducers of proximity to E3s. We then briefly highlight the serendipitous discoveries of some clinical and preclinical molecular glue degraders, and discuss the first examples of intentional discoveries. Specifically, we outline the different screening strategies reported in this rapidly evolving arena and our thoughts on future perspectives. By mastering the ability to influence PPIs, molecular glue degraders can induce the degradation of unligandable proteins, thus providing an exciting path forward to broaden the targetable proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Domostegui
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Luis Nieto-Barrado
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Carles Perez-Lopez
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Cristina Mayor-Ruiz
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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Li F, Aljahdali IAM, Ling X. Molecular Glues: Capable Protein-Binding Small Molecules That Can Change Protein-Protein Interactions and Interactomes for the Potential Treatment of Human Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116206. [PMID: 35682885 PMCID: PMC9181451 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular glue (MG) compounds are a type of unique small molecule that can change the protein–protein interactions (PPIs) and interactomes by degrading, stabilizing, or activating the target protein after their binging. These small-molecule MGs are gradually being recognized for their potential application in treating human diseases, including cancer. Evidence suggests that small-molecule MG compounds could essentially target any proteins, which play critical roles in human disease etiology, where many of these protein targets were previously considered undruggable. Intriguingly, most MG compounds with high efficacy for cancer treatment can glue on and control multiple key protein targets. On the other hand, a single key protein target can also be glued by multiple MG compounds with distinct chemical structures. The high flexibility of MG–protein interaction profiles provides rich soil for the growth and development of small-molecule MG compounds that can be used as molecular tools to assist in unraveling disease mechanisms, and they can also facilitate drug development for the treatment of human disease, especially human cancer. In this review, we elucidate this concept by using various types of small-molecule MG compounds and their corresponding protein targets that have been documented in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengzhi Li
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (I.A.M.A.); (X.L.)
- Developmental Therapeutics (DT) Program, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
- Gastrointestinal Translational Research Group (GI TRG), Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(716)-845-4398; Fax: +1-(716)-845-8857
| | - Ieman A. M. Aljahdali
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (I.A.M.A.); (X.L.)
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Xiang Ling
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (I.A.M.A.); (X.L.)
- Canget BioTekpharma LLC, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
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