Cited by 173Protein Degradation and InhibitorsUbiquitin and proteasome pathwaysChemical Synthesis and Analysis

Haven't got a glue: Protein surface variation for the design of molecular glue degraders

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Kozicka, Zuzanna, Thomä, Nicolas Holger·2021·Cell Chemical Biology

Abstract

Molecular glue degraders are small, drug-like compounds that induce interactions between an E3 ubiquitin ligase and a target, which result in ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of the recruited protein. In recent years, serendipitous discoveries revealed that some preclinical and clinical compounds already work as molecular glue degraders, with many more postulated to destabilize their targets through indirect or yet unresolved mechanisms. Here we review strategies by which E3 ubiquitin ligases can be reprogrammed by monovalent degraders, with a focus on molecular glues hijacking cullin-RING ubiquitin ligases. We argue that such drugs exploit the intrinsic property of proteins to form higher-order assemblies, a phenomenon previously seen with disease-causing sequence variations. Modifications of the protein surface by a bound small molecule can change the interactome of the target protein. By inducing interactions between a ligase and a substrate, molecular glue degraders offer an exciting path for the development of novel therapeutics.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.04.009

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Authors
Kozicka, Z., & Thomä, N. H.
Affiliations
  • University of Basel (CH)
  • Friedrich Miescher Institute (CH)
Corresponding author
Thomä, Nicolas Holger
Venue
Cell Chemical Biology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-07
Volume
28
Issue
7
Pages
1032-1047
ISSN
  • 2451-9448 (ISSN-L)
  • 2451-9456
OpenAlex
W3158527646
Cited by
170
References
111
Citations by year
2026: 37 · 2025: 40 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 2
FWCI
2.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell chemical biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • European Research Council (666068)
  • European Commission (765445)
  • Horizon 2020
  • Novartis Foundation
  • Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (186230, KFS-4980-02-2020)
  • Oncosuisse
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Degradation and Inhibitors
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Chemical Synthesis and Analysis
Keywords
molecular glues, E3 ubiquitin ligase, cullin-RING ubiquitin ligases, protein degradation, protein surface modification, protein-protein interaction, protein assembly, drug design, protein-protein interaction network
MeSH terms
Enzyme Inhibitors, Humans, Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases, Small Molecule Libraries, Ubiquitination

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