Cited by 419Protein Degradation and InhibitorsUbiquitin and proteasome pathwaysChemical Synthesis and Analysis

Delineating the role of cooperativity in the design of potent PROTACs for BTK

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Zorba, Adelajda, Nguyen, Chuong, Xu, Yingrong, Starr, Jeremy, Borzilleri, Kris, Smith, James, Zhu, Hongyao, Farley, Kathleen A. +25 more·2018·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are heterobifunctional small molecules that simultaneously bind to a target protein and an E3 ligase, thereby leading to ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of the target. They present an exciting opportunity to modulate proteins in a manner independent of enzymatic or signaling activity. As such, they have recently emerged as an attractive mechanism to explore previously "undruggable" targets. Despite this interest, fundamental questions remain regarding the parameters most critical for achieving potency and selectivity. Here we employ a series of biochemical and cellular techniques to investigate requirements for efficient knockdown of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase essential for B cell maturation. Members of an 11-compound PROTAC library were investigated for their ability to form binary and ternary complexes with BTK and cereblon (CRBN, an E3 ligase component). Results were extended to measure effects on BTK-CRBN cooperative interactions as well as in vitro and in vivo BTK degradation. Our data show that alleviation of steric clashes between BTK and CRBN by modulating PROTAC linker length within this chemical series allows potent BTK degradation in the absence of thermodynamic cooperativity.

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  • Linker length plays an important role in PROTAC potency.

    “The length of linker plays an important role in the potency of PROTAC molecules[29,30].”
  • In a recent report of a BTK degrader, target degradation varied significantly between the spleen and lung despite similar distribution, potentially due to differences in the tissue-specific levels of CRBN.

    “In a recent report of a BTK degrader, target degradation varied significantly between the spleen and lung despite similar distribution, potentially due to differences in the tissue-specific levels of CRBN.44”
  • Several studies reported successful conversion of either a reversible ibrutinib scaffold or a different noncovalent analog derived from a previously published covalent BTK inhibitor into BTK degraders.

    “Subsequently, several studies reported successful conversion of either a reversible ibrutinib scaffold 42,43 or a different noncovalent analog derived from a previously published covalent BTK inhibitor 44,45 into BTK degraders.”
  • BTK has been the subject of intense PROTAC molecule experimentation across academia and industry.

    “and has been the subject of intense PROTAC molecule experimentation across academia and industry166–168”

    From PROTAC targeted protein degraders: the past is prologue (2022) · cites this paper as [167]

  • Several potent BTK PROTACs aimed at targeting mutant BTK in ibrutinib-resistant B cell malignancies with improved cellular activities and in vivo potencies were reported.

    “Subsequently, several potent BTK PROTACs aimed at targeting mutant BTK in ibrutinib-resistant B cell malignancies with improved cellular activities and possessing in vivo potencies were reported by different groups [7, 44, 118–120].”

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Authors
Zorba, A., Nguyen, C., Xu, Y., Starr, J., Borzilleri, K., Smith, J., Zhu, H., Farley, K. A., Ding, W., Schiemer, J., Feng, X., Chang, J. S., Uccello, D. P., Young, J. A., Garcia-Irrizary, C. N., Czabaniuk, L., Schuff, B., Oliver, R., Montgomery, J., Hayward, M. M., Coe, J., Chen, J., Niosi, M., Luthra, S., Shah, J. C., El-Kattan, A., Qiu, X., West, G. M., Noe, M. C., Shanmugasundaram, V., Gilbert, A. M., Brown, M. F., & Calabrese, M. F.
Affiliations
  • Pfizer (United States) (US)
  • Medicine Design, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, CT 06340;
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2018-07-16
Volume
115
Issue
31
Pages
E7285-E7292
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W2883024539
Cited by
419
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 39 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 66 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 65 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 60 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 6
FWCI
14.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
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
PROTACs, Bruton's tyrosine kinase, cereblon, E3 ubiquitin ligase, protein degradation, steric clashes, ternary complex formation, B cell maturation, undruggable targets
MeSH terms
Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase, Animals, Cells, Cultured, Ligands, Protein-Tyrosine Kinases, Thermodynamics, Polyubiquitin, Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases, Rats, Ubiquitination, Proteolysis

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