Cited by 344Protein Degradation and InhibitorsUbiquitin and proteasome pathwaysChemical Synthesis and Analysis

Deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras for targeted protein stabilization

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Henning, Nathaniel J., Boike, Lydia, Spradlin, Jessica N., Ward, Carl C., Liu, Gang, Zhang, Erika, Belcher, Bridget P., Brittain, Scott M. +16 more·2022·Nature Chemical Biology

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Abstract

Many diseases are driven by proteins that are aberrantly ubiquitinated and degraded. These diseases would be therapeutically benefited by targeted protein stabilization (TPS). Here we present deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras (DUBTACs), heterobifunctional small molecules consisting of a deubiquitinase recruiter linked to a protein-targeting ligand, to stabilize the levels of specific proteins degraded in a ubiquitin-dependent manner. Using chemoproteomic approaches, we discovered the covalent ligand EN523 that targets a non-catalytic allosteric cysteine C23 in the K48-ubiquitin-specific deubiquitinase OTUB1. We showed that a DUBTAC consisting of our EN523 OTUB1 recruiter linked to lumacaftor, a drug used to treat cystic fibrosis that binds ΔF508-cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), robustly stabilized ΔF508-CFTR protein levels, leading to improved chloride channel conductance in human cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial cells. We also demonstrated stabilization of the tumor suppressor kinase WEE1 in hepatoma cells. Our study showcases covalent chemoproteomic approaches to develop new induced proximity-based therapeutic modalities and introduces the DUBTAC platform for TPS.

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  • NJH-2-057, formed by combining EN523 (a selective OTUB1 binder) with lumacaftor, effectively inhibits ΔF508-CFTR degradation, increases protein levels, and shows improved stabilization compared with lumacaftor alone in cystic fibrosis donor cells.

    “This DUBTAC effectively inhibits ΔF508-CFTR degradation, increasing protein levels and demonstrating improved stabilization compared to lumacaftor alone in cystic fibrosis donor cells.548”
  • Nomura's team developed deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras (DUBTACs) for targeted protein stabilization, inspired by PROTAC.

    “Nomura’s team, inspired by PROTAC, developed deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras (DUBTACs) for TPS.”
  • A targeted protein stabilization platform called DUBTACs has been developed using a covalent deubiquitinase recruiter.

    “a targeted protein stabilization platform, termed deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras (DUBTACs) has been developed using a covalent deubiquitinase recruiter195.”

    From Advances in covalent drug discovery (2022) · cites this paper as [195]

  • Through chemoproteomic data analysis and an ABPP-based screen, a covalent OTUB1 recruiter was discovered that could be incorporated into bifunctional compounds that stabilize mutant CFTR, whose degradation drives cystic fibrosis.

    “Through analysis of chemoproteomic data and an ABPP-based screen, a covalent OTUB1 recruiter was discovered that could be incorporated into bifunctional compounds that stabilize mutant cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), the degradation of which drives cystic fibrosis.”

    From Advances in covalent drug discovery (2022) · cites this paper as [195]

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [55]Spradlin JN Harnessing the anti-cancer natural product nimbolide for targeted protein degradation. Nat. Chem. Biol 15, 747– 755 (2019). 31209351 PMC6592714
  2. [57]Luo M Chemoproteomics-enabled discovery of covalent RNF114-based degraders that mimic natural product function. Cell Chem. Biol (2021) doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.01.005. PMC8052289 33513350 · DOI · Paper page

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Authors
Henning, N. J., Boike, L., Spradlin, J. N., Ward, C. C., Liu, G., Zhang, E., Belcher, B. P., Brittain, S. M., Hesse, M. J., Dovala, D., McGregor, L. M., Valdez Misiolek, R., Plasschaert, L. W., Rowlands, D. J., Wang, F., Frank, A. O., Fuller, D., Estes, A. R., Randal, K. L., Panidapu, A., McKenna, J. M., Tallarico, J. A., Schirle, M., & Nomura, D. K.
Affiliations
Innovative Genomics Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Nomura, Daniel K.
Venue
Nature Chemical Biology
Published
2022-02-24
Volume
18
Issue
4
Pages
412-421
ISSN
  • 1552-4450 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-4469
OpenAlex
W4225364558
Cited by
344
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 63 · 2025: 86 · 2024: 74 · 2023: 73 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 8 · 2014: 1
FWCI
22.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Chemical Biology (publishedVersion)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
  • The Novartis Repository (Novartis) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Novartis Institutes for BioMedical ResearchMark Foundation for Cancer Research
  • National Institutes of HealthMark Foundation for Cancer ResearchNovartis Institutes for BioMedical ResearchNational Science Foundation
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
OTUB1, induced proximity, ΔF508-CFTR, lumacaftor, cystic fibrosis, WEE1, protein degradation
MeSH terms
Deubiquitinating Enzymes, Chimera, Cystic Fibrosis, Humans, Ligands, Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator, Ubiquitin

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