Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are small molecules that specifically link E3 ubiquitin ligases to proteins of interest to mediate targeted ubiquitination and degradation. PROTACs are advantageous since they can target undruggable proteins with multiple domains, particularly those with smooth surfaces that lack a common binding domain for small-molecule inhibitors (SMIs). This review provides an overview of PROTAC technology and third-generation PROTAC development. We focused on designing and executing the most recent clinical trials involving PROTACs in cancer therapy. Additionally, we summarized novel findings regarding the mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in cancer development, such as the scaffolding function of certain proteins ignored by traditional SMIs and several recognized oncoproteins that participate in novel signaling pathways. We also discussed strategies for enhancing PROTAC antitumor activity and specificity.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215716 | DOI Listing |
Nucleic Acids Res
January 2025
Department of Chemistry and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.
RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) are non-canonical secondary nucleic acid structures found in the transcriptome. They play crucial roles in gene regulation by interacting with G4-binding proteins (G4BPs) in cells. rG4-G4BP complexes have been associated with human diseases, making them important targets for drug development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Chem Biol
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.
Conventional small-molecule drugs primarily operate by inhibiting protein function, but this approach is limited when proteins lack well-defined ligand-binding pockets. Targeted protein degradation (TPD) offers an alternative approach by harnessing cellular degradation pathways to eliminate specific proteins. Recent studies have expanded the potential of TPD by identifying additional E3 ligases, with DCAF16 emerging as a promising candidate for facilitating protein degradation through both proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) and molecular glue mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Chem
January 2025
College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
Linker structures are a crucial component of proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and have traditionally been designed based on empirical methods, which presents significant challenges in the development of PROTACs. Current optimization strategies typically focus on reducing the number of rotatable bonds in the linker to limit conformational freedom. However, this approach overlooks the complexity of the target protein degradation process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, 10408, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea.
The VHL-containing cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase (CRL2) complex is an E3 ligase commonly used in targeted protein degradation (TPD). Hydroxyproline-based ligands that mimic VHL substrates have been developed as anchor molecules for proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) in TPD. To expand the chemical space for VHL ligands, we conducted fragment screening using VHL-ELOB-ELOC (VBC) proteins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiol Aujourdhui
January 2025
Université de Caen Normandie, CERMN UR4258, Boulevard Becquerel, 14000 Caen, France.
The disruption of proteostasis provides a favourable context for the emergence of therapeutic innovations, in particular by exploiting technologies such as the PROTAC (Proteolysis Targeting Chimera) approach. These technologies aim to selectively target proteins involved in various diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, by inducing their specific degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. The PROTAC approach opens new opportunities for restoring altered protein homeostasis and modulating the pathological consequences of proteostasis deregulation.
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