Cited by 132Protein Degradation and InhibitorsUbiquitin and proteasome pathwaysChemical Synthesis and Analysis

Ligandability of E3 Ligases for Targeted Protein Degradation Applications

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Belcher, Bridget P., Ward, Carl C., Nomura, Daniel K.·2023·Biochemistry

Abstract

Targeted protein degradation (TPD) using proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and molecular glue degraders has arisen as a powerful therapeutic modality for eliminating disease-causing proteins from cells. PROTACs and molecular glue degraders employ heterobifunctional or monovalent small molecules, respectively, to chemically induce the proximity of target proteins with E3 ubiquitin ligases to ubiquitinate and degrade specific proteins via the proteasome. Whereas TPD is an attractive therapeutic strategy for expanding the druggable proteome, only a relatively small number of E3 ligases out of the >600 E3 ligases encoded by the human genome have been exploited by small molecules for TPD applications. Here we review the existing E3 ligases that have thus far been successfully exploited for TPD and discuss chemoproteomics-enabled covalent screening strategies for discovering new E3 ligase recruiters. We also provide a chemoproteomic map of reactive cysteines within hundreds of E3 ligases that may represent potential ligandable sites that can be pharmacologically interrogated to uncover additional E3 ligase recruiters.

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Crossref · 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00464

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  • The high proportion of E3 ligases with reactive cysteines suggests that covalent approaches to harness more E3 ligases could continue to be successful.

    “suggesting that covalent approaches to harness more E3 ligases could continue to be successful194.”

    From Advances in covalent drug discovery (2022) · cites this paper as [194]

  • Analyses of chemoproteomic data sets assessing cysteine reactivity indicate that 97% of E3 ligases possess reactive cysteines.

    “On the basis of analyses of chemoproteomic data sets assessing cysteine reactivity, 97% of E3 ligases possess reactive cysteines”

    From Advances in covalent drug discovery (2022) · cites this paper as [194]

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. [40]Bond MJ; Chu L; Nalawansha DA; Li K; Crews CM Targeted Degradation of Oncogenic KRASG12Cby VHL-Recruiting PROTACs. ACS Cent. Sci 2020. 10.1021/acscentsci.0c00411. PMC7453568 32875077 · DOI · Paper page
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  3. [43]Ito T; Ando H; Suzuki T; Ogura T; Hotta K; Imamura Y; Yamaguchi Y; Handa H Identification of a Primary Target of Thalidomide Teratogenicity. Science 2010, 327 (5971), 1345– 1350. 10.1126/science.1177319. 20223979 · DOI · Paper page
  4. [69]Spradlin JN; Hu X; Ward CC; Brittain SM; Jones MD; Ou L; To M; Proudfoot A; Ornelas E; Woldegiorgis M; Olzmann JA; Bussiere DE; Thomas JR; Tallarico JA; McKenna JM; Schirle M; Maimone TJ; Nomura DK Harnessing the Anti-Cancer Natural Product Nimbolide for Targeted Protein Degradation. Nat. Chem. Biol 2019, 15 (7), 747– 755. 10.1038/s41589-019-0304-8. 31209351 PMC6592714 · DOI · Paper page
  5. [100]Zhang X; Crowley VM; Wucherpfennig TG; Dix MM; Cravatt BF Electrophilic PROTACs That Degrade Nuclear Proteins by Engaging DCAF16. Nat. Chem. Biol 2019, 15 (7), 737– 746. 10.1038/s41589-019-0279-5. 31209349 PMC6592777 · DOI · Paper page

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Authors
Belcher, B. P., Ward, C. C., & Nomura, D. K.
Affiliations
Innovative Genomics Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Nomura, Daniel K.
Venue
Biochemistry
Published
2021-09-02
Volume
62
Issue
3
Pages
588-600
ISSN
  • 0006-2960 (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-4995
OpenAlex
W3197828497
Cited by
132
References
108
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 24
FWCI
2.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biochemistry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • The Novartis Repository (Novartis) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Mark Foundation For Cancer Research
  • Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
  • Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies
  • Nomura Research Group
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
targeted protein degradation, E3 ubiquitin ligase, PROTACs, molecular glues, chemoproteomics, reactive cysteines, druggable proteome, proteasomal degradation
MeSH terms
Humans, Proteins, Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases, Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex, Ubiquitination, Proteolysis

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