Cited by 150Protein Degradation and InhibitorsHistone Deacetylase Inhibitors ResearchAdvanced Breast Cancer Therapies

Discovery and resistance mechanism of a selective CDK12 degrader

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Jiang, Baishan, Gao, Yang, Che, Jianwei, Lu, Wenchao, Kaltheuner, Ines H., Dries, Ruben, Kalocsay, Marian, Berberich, Matthew J. +9 more·2021·Nature Chemical Biology

Abstract

Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) is an emerging therapeutic target due to its role in regulating transcription of DNA-damage response (DDR) genes. However, development of selective small molecules targeting CDK12 has been challenging due to the high degree of homology between kinase domains of CDK12 and other transcriptional CDKs, most notably CDK13. In the present study, we report the rational design and characterization of a CDK12-specific degrader, BSJ-4-116. BSJ-4-116 selectively degraded CDK12 as assessed through quantitative proteomics. Selective degradation of CDK12 resulted in premature cleavage and poly(adenylation) of DDR genes. Moreover, BSJ-4-116 exhibited potent antiproliferative effects, alone and in combination with the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor olaparib, as well as when used as a single agent against cell lines resistant to covalent CDK12 inhibitors. Two point mutations in CDK12 were identified that confer resistance to BSJ-4-116, demonstrating a potential mechanism that tumor cells can use to evade bivalent degrader molecules.

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  • Mutations can also arise on the neo-substrate, as reported for CDK12-targeting PROTACs.

    “While it appears reasonable to conclude that resistance-causing mutations will be enriched in the ligase, mutations can also arise on the neo-substrate, as for instance reported for CDK12-targeting PROTACs47.”

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  1. [52]Krajewska M CDK12 loss in cancer cells affects DNA damage response genes through premature cleavage and polyadenylation. Nat Commun 10, 1757, doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09703-y (2019). 30988284 PMC6465371 · DOI · Paper page

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Authors
Jiang, B., Gao, Y., Che, J., Lu, W., Kaltheuner, I. H., Dries, R., Kalocsay, M., Berberich, M. J., Jiang, J., You, I., Kwiatkowski, N., Riching, K. M., Daniels, D. L., Sorger, P. K., Geyer, M., Zhang, T., & Gray, N. S.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • University of Bonn (DE)
  • Boston University (US)
  • Promega (United States) (US)
Corresponding author
  • Zhang, Tinghu
  • Gray, Nathanael S.
Venue
Nature Chemical Biology
Published
2021-03-22
Volume
17
Issue
6
Pages
675-683
ISSN
  • 1552-4450 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-4469
OpenAlex
W3136984727
Cited by
150
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 10
FWCI
7.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Chemical Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (GE 976/9-2)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Degradation and Inhibitors
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Advanced Breast Cancer Therapies
Keywords
CDK12, DNA damage response, CDK13, acquired drug resistance, point mutations, PARP inhibitors, olaparib, antiproliferative activity, MOLT-4 cells, Jurkat cells
MeSH terms
Animals, DNA Damage, Drug Resistance, Humans, Poly A, Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose, Drug Design, Cyclin-Dependent Kinases, Proteomics, Protein Kinase Inhibitors, Drug Discovery

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