Mapping the Evolution of Activity-Based Protein Profiling: A Bibliometric Review

Ligand discovery by activity-based protein profiling

Genomic technologies have led to massive gains in our understanding of human gene function and disease relevance. Chemical biologists are a primary beneficiary of this information, which can guide the prioritization of proteins for chemical probe and drug development. The vast functional and structural diversity of disease-relevant proteins, however, presents challenges for conventional small molecule screening libraries and assay development that in turn raise questions about the broader "druggability" of the human proteome. Here, we posit that activity-based protein profiling (ABPP), by generating global maps of small molecule-protein interactions in native biological systems, is well positioned to address major obstacles in human biology-guided chemical probe and drug discovery. We will support this viewpoint with case studies highlighting a range of small molecule mechanisms illuminated by ABPP that include the disruption and stabilization of biomolecular (protein-protein/nucleic acid) interactions and underscore allostery as a rich source of chemical tools for historically "undruggable" protein classes.

Activity-based protein profiling: A graphical review

Activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) is a chemoproteomic technology that employs small chemical probes to directly interrogate protein function within complex proteomes. Since its initial application almost 25 years ago, ABPP has proven to be a powerful and versatile tool for addressing numerous challenges in drug discovery, including the development of highly selective small-molecule inhibitors, the discovery of new therapeutic targets, and the illumination of target proteins in tissues and organisms. This graphical review provides an overview of the rapid evolution of ABPP strategies, highlighting the versatility of the approach with selected examples of its successful application.