1
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Liu C, Chen Z, Chen T, Song H, Shen J, Yuan X, Xia S, Liu Q, Chen Q, Tian Q, Meng X, Han Z, Dong X, Yang Y, Cai L, Cheng X, Jia Y, Liu G, Li J, Ge J, Dou D. Re-Evaluating PIN1 as a Therapeutic Target in Oncology Using Neutral Inhibitors and PROTACs. J Med Chem 2024; 67:15780-15795. [PMID: 39229909 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (PIN1) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment. However, the current PIN1 inhibitors have shown limited efficacy in animal models, leaving the question of whether PIN1 is a proper oncologic target still unanswered. By screening a 1 trillion DNA-encoded library (DEL), we identified novel nonacidic compounds. Among resynthesized DEL compounds, DEL1067-56-469 (A0) is the most potent one (KD = 430 nM, IC50 = 420 nM). Further optimization of A0 resulted in compound C10 with much improved potency (KD = 25 nM, IC50 = 150 nM). As an alternative approach, C10 was then converted into proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) in order to achieve deeper downregulation of the PIN1 protein in cancer cell lines. Unfortunately, neither PIN1 inhibitors nor PIN1 PROTACs demonstrated meaningful antiproliferation activity. In addition, siRNA knock-down experiments provided unfavorable evidence of PIN1 as an oncologic target. Our findings highlight the complexity of targeting PIN1 for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Liu
- HitGen Inc., Shuangliu District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610200, P. R. China
| | - Zhonghui Chen
- Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan 611138, P. R. China
| | - Tao Chen
- HitGen Inc., Shuangliu District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610200, P. R. China
| | - Hongmei Song
- Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan 611138, P. R. China
| | - Jianbo Shen
- HitGen Inc., Shuangliu District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610200, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxi Yuan
- Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan 611138, P. R. China
| | - Shuai Xia
- HitGen Inc., Shuangliu District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610200, P. R. China
| | - Qian Liu
- Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan 611138, P. R. China
| | - Qiuxia Chen
- HitGen Inc., Shuangliu District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610200, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Tian
- Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan 611138, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyun Meng
- HitGen Inc., Shuangliu District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610200, P. R. China
| | - Zhu Han
- Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan 611138, P. R. China
| | - Xiaofei Dong
- HitGen Inc., Shuangliu District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610200, P. R. China
| | - Yu Yang
- Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan 611138, P. R. China
| | - Longying Cai
- HitGen Inc., Shuangliu District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610200, P. R. China
| | - Xuemin Cheng
- HitGen Inc., Shuangliu District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610200, P. R. China
| | - Yangyang Jia
- Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan 611138, P. R. China
| | - Guansai Liu
- HitGen Inc., Shuangliu District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610200, P. R. China
| | - Jin Li
- HitGen Inc., Shuangliu District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610200, P. R. China
| | - Junyou Ge
- Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan 611138, P. R. China
| | - Dengfeng Dou
- HitGen Inc., Shuangliu District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610200, P. R. China
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2
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Han S, Guo X, Wang M, Liu H, Song Y, He Y, Hsueh KL, Cui W, Su W, Kuai L, Deng J. Highly Selective Novel Heme Oxygenase-1 Hits Found by DNA-Encoded Library Machine Learning beyond the DEL Chemical Space. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:1456-1466. [PMID: 39291011 PMCID: PMC11403747 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.4c00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology, especially when combined with machine learning (ML), is a powerful method to discover novel inhibitors. DEL-ML can expand a larger chemical space and boost cost-effectiveness during hit finding. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a heme-degrading enzyme, is linked to diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. The discovery of five series of new scaffold HO-1 hits is reported here, using a DEL-ML workflow, which emphasizes the model's uncertainty quantification and domain of applicability. This model exhibits a strong extrapolation ability, identifying new structures beyond the DEL chemical space. About 37% of predicted molecules showed a binding affinity of K D < 20 μM, with the strongest being 141 nM, amd 14 of those molecules displayed >100-fold selectivity for HO-1 over heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2). These molecules also showed structural novelty compared to existing HO-1 inhibitors. Docking simulations provided insights into possible selectivity rationale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Han
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 240 Hedan Road, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Xinyun Guo
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 240 Hedan Road, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Min Wang
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 240 Hedan Road, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Huan Liu
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 240 Hedan Road, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Yidan Song
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 240 Hedan Road, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Yunyun He
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 240 Hedan Road, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Kuang-Lung Hsueh
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 240 Hedan Road, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Weiren Cui
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 240 Hedan Road, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Wenji Su
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 240 Hedan Road, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Letian Kuai
- WuXi AppTec, 22 Strathmore Road, Natick, Massachusetts 01760, United States
| | - Jason Deng
- WuXi AppTec, 22 Strathmore Road, Natick, Massachusetts 01760, United States
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3
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Fitzgerald P, Dixit A, Zhang C, Mobley DL, Paegel BM. Building Block-Centric Approach to DNA-Encoded Library Design. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:4661-4672. [PMID: 38860710 PMCID: PMC11200258 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
DNA-encoded library technology grants access to nearly infinite opportunities to explore the chemical structure space for drug discovery. Successful navigation depends on the design and synthesis of libraries with appropriate physicochemical properties (PCPs) and structural diversity while aligning with practical considerations. To this end, we analyze combinatorial library design constraints including the number of chemistry cycles, bond construction strategies, and building block (BB) class selection in pursuit of ideal library designs. We compare two-cycle library designs (amino acid + carboxylic acid, primary amine + carboxylic acid) in the context of PCPs and chemical space coverage, given different BB selection strategies and constraints. We find that broad availability of amines and acids is essential for enabling the widest exploration of chemical space. Surprisingly, cost is not a driving factor, and virtually, the same chemical space can be explored with "budget" BBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick
R. Fitzgerald
- Skaggs
Doctoral Program in the Chemical and Biological Sciences, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Anjali Dixit
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Chris Zhang
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - David L. Mobley
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Brian M. Paegel
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
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4
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Schreiber SL. Molecular glues and bifunctional compounds: Therapeutic modalities based on induced proximity. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:1050-1063. [PMID: 38861986 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
This Perspective explores molecular glues and bifunctional compounds-proximity-inducing compounds-and offers a framework to understand and exploit their similarity to hotspots, missense mutations, and posttranslational modifications (PTMs). This view is also shown to be relevant to intramolecular glues, where compounds induce contacts between distinct domains of the same protein. A historical perspective of these compounds is presented that shows the field has come full circle from molecular glues targeting native proteins, to bifunctionals targeting fusion proteins, and back to molecular glues and bifunctionals targeting native proteins. Modern screening methods and data analyses with pre-selected target proteins are shown to yield either cooperative molecular glues or bifunctional compounds that induce proximity, thereby enabling novel functional outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart L Schreiber
- Arena BioWorks, Broad Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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5
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Tian Y, Seifermann M, Bauer L, Luchena C, Wiedmann JJ, Schmidt S, Geisel A, Afonin S, Höpfner J, Brehm M, Liu X, Hopf C, Popova AA, Levkin PA. High-Throughput Miniaturized Synthesis of PROTAC-Like Molecules. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2307215. [PMID: 38258390 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202307215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The development of miniaturized high-throughput in situ screening platforms capable of handling the entire process of drug synthesis to final screening is essential for advancing drug discovery in the future. In this study, an approach based on combinatorial solid-phase synthesis, enabling the efficient synthesis of libraries of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) in an array format is presented. This on-chip platform allows direct biological screening without the need for transfer steps. UV-induced release of target molecules into individual droplets facilitates further on-chip experimentation. Utilizing a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MEK1/2) degrader as a template, a series of 132 novel PROTAC-like molecules is synthesized using solid-phase Ugi reaction. These compounds are further characterized using various methods, including matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) imaging, while consuming only a few milligrams of starting materials in total. Furthermore, the feasibility of culturing cancer cells on the modified spots and quantifying the effect of MEK suppression is demonstrated. The miniaturized synthesis platform lays a foundation for high-throughput in situ biological screening of potent PROTACs for potential anticancer activity and offers the potential for accelerating the drug discovery process by integrating miniaturized synthesis and biological steps on the same array.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Tian
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Wenhuaxi Road 44, Jinan, 250012, China
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Wenhuaxi Road 44, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Maximilian Seifermann
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Liana Bauer
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Charlotte Luchena
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Janne J Wiedmann
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Stefan Schmidt
- Center for Mass Spectrometry and Optical Spectroscopy (CeMOS), University of Applied Sciences Mannheim, Paul-Wittsack-Straße 10, 68163, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Alexander Geisel
- Center for Mass Spectrometry and Optical Spectroscopy (CeMOS), University of Applied Sciences Mannheim, Paul-Wittsack-Straße 10, 68163, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sergii Afonin
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), POB 3640, 76021, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Julius Höpfner
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Marius Brehm
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Xinyong Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Wenhuaxi Road 44, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Carsten Hopf
- Center for Mass Spectrometry and Optical Spectroscopy (CeMOS), University of Applied Sciences Mannheim, Paul-Wittsack-Straße 10, 68163, Mannheim, Germany
- Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
- Mannheim Center for Translational Neuroscience (MCTN), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anna A Popova
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Pavel A Levkin
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
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6
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Stevens R, Thompson JDF, Fournier JCL, Burley GA, Battersby DJ, Miah AH. Innovative, combinatorial and high-throughput approaches to degrader synthesis. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:4838-4861. [PMID: 38596888 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs01127e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degraders such as PROTACs and molecular glues are a rapidly emerging therapeutic modality within industry and academia. Degraders possess unique mechanisms of action that lead to the removal of specific proteins by co-opting the cell's natural degradation mechanisms via induced proximity. Their optimisation thus far has often been largely empirical, requiring the synthesis and screening of a large number of analogues. In addition, the synthesis and development of degraders is often challenging, leading to lengthy optimisation campaigns to deliver candidate-quality compounds. This review highlights how the synthesis of degraders has evolved in recent years, in particular focusing on means of applying high-throughput chemistry and screening approaches to expedite these timelines, which we anticipate to be valuable in shaping the future of degrader optimisation campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Stevens
- Medicinal Chemistry, GSK, Stevenage, SG1 2NY, UK.
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1XQ, UK
| | | | | | - Glenn A Burley
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1XQ, UK
| | | | - Afjal H Miah
- Medicinal Chemistry, GSK, Stevenage, SG1 2NY, UK.
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7
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Testa A. Affinity for both sides. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:134-135. [PMID: 37919550 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01473-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
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8
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Mason JW, Chow YT, Hudson L, Tutter A, Michaud G, Westphal MV, Shu W, Ma X, Tan ZY, Coley CW, Clemons PA, Bonazzi S, Berst F, Briner K, Liu S, Zécri FJ, Schreiber SL. DNA-encoded library-enabled discovery of proximity-inducing small molecules. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:170-179. [PMID: 37919549 PMCID: PMC10917151 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01458-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Small molecules that induce protein-protein associations represent powerful tools to modulate cell circuitry. We sought to develop a platform for the direct discovery of compounds able to induce association of any two preselected proteins, using the E3 ligase von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) and bromodomains as test systems. Leveraging the screening power of DNA-encoded libraries (DELs), we synthesized ~1 million DNA-encoded compounds that possess a VHL-targeting ligand, a variety of connectors and a diversity element generated by split-and-pool combinatorial chemistry. By screening our DEL against bromodomains in the presence and absence of VHL, we could identify VHL-bound molecules that simultaneously bind bromodomains. For highly barcode-enriched library members, ternary complex formation leading to bromodomain degradation was confirmed in cells. Furthermore, a ternary complex crystal structure was obtained for our most enriched library member with BRD4BD1 and a VHL complex. Our work provides a foundation for adapting DEL screening to the discovery of proximity-inducing small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy W Mason
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Global Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yuen Ting Chow
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Liam Hudson
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Global Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Antonin Tutter
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Gregory Michaud
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Matthias V Westphal
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Global Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Wei Shu
- Structural and Biophysical Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Xiaolei Ma
- Structural and Biophysical Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Zher Yin Tan
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Connor W Coley
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Paul A Clemons
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Simone Bonazzi
- Global Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Frédéric Berst
- Global Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Karin Briner
- Global Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Shuang Liu
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Frédéric J Zécri
- Global Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Stuart L Schreiber
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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9
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Lessing A, Petrov D, Scheuermann J. Advancing small-molecule drug discovery by encoded dual-display technologies. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:817-831. [PMID: 37739829 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
DNA-encoded chemical library technology (DECL or DEL) has become an important pillar for small-molecule drug discovery. The technology rapidly identifies small-molecule hits for relevant target proteins at low cost and with a high success rate, including ligands for targeted protein degradation (TPD). More recently, the setup of DNA- or peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-encoded chemical libraries based on the simultaneous display of ligand pairs, termed dual-display, allows for more sophisticated applications which will be reviewed herein. Both stable and dynamic dual-display DEL technologies enable innovative affinity-based selection modalities, even on and in cells. Novel methods for a seamless conversion between single- and double-stranded library formats allow for even more versatility. We present the first candidates emerging from dual-display technologies and discuss the future potential of dual-display for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Lessing
- ETH Zürich, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Dimitar Petrov
- ETH Zürich, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Scheuermann
- ETH Zürich, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zürich, Switzerland.
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10
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Tokareva OS, Li K, Travaline TL, Thomson TM, Swiecicki JM, Moussa M, Ramirez JD, Litchman S, Verdine GL, McGee JH. Recognition and reprogramming of E3 ubiquitin ligase surfaces by α-helical peptides. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6992. [PMID: 37914719 PMCID: PMC10620186 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42395-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecules that induce novel interactions between proteins hold great promise for the study of biological systems and the development of therapeutics, but their discovery has been limited by the complexities of rationally designing interactions between three components, and because known binders to each protein are typically required to inform initial designs. Here, we report a general and rapid method for discovering α-helically constrained (Helicon) polypeptides that cooperatively induce the interaction between two target proteins without relying on previously known binders or an intrinsic affinity between the proteins. We show that Helicons are capable of binding every major class of E3 ubiquitin ligases, which are of great biological and therapeutic interest but remain largely intractable to targeting by small molecules. We then describe a phage-based screening method for discovering "trimerizer" Helicons, and apply it to reprogram E3s to cooperatively bind an enzyme (PPIA), a transcription factor (TEAD4), and a transcriptional coactivator (β-catenin).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kunhua Li
- FOG Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
- Kymera Therapeutics, Inc., Watertown, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Jean-Marie Swiecicki
- FOG Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
- Relay Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Gregory L Verdine
- FOG Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard, University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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11
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Liu S, Tong B, Mason JW, Ostrem JM, Tutter A, Hua BK, Tang SA, Bonazzi S, Briner K, Berst F, Zécri F, Schreiber SL. Rational Screening for Cooperativity in Small-Molecule Inducers of Protein-Protein Associations. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:23281-23291. [PMID: 37816014 PMCID: PMC10603787 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c08307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
The hallmark of a molecular glue is its ability to induce cooperative protein-protein interactions, leading to the formation of a ternary complex, despite weaker binding toward one or both individual proteins. Notably, the extent of cooperativity distinguishes molecular glues from bifunctional compounds, which constitute a second class of inducers of protein-protein interactions. However, apart from serendipitous discovery, there have been limited rational screening strategies for the high cooperativity exhibited by molecular glues. Here, we propose a binding-based screen of DNA-barcoded compounds on a target protein in the presence or absence of a presenter protein, using the "presenter ratio", the ratio of ternary enrichment to binary enrichment, as a predictive measure of cooperativity. Through this approach, we identified a range of cooperative, noncooperative, and uncooperative compounds in a single DNA-encoded library screen with bromodomain containing protein (BRD)9 and the VHL-elongin C-elongin B (VCB) complex. Our most cooperative hit compound, 13-7, exhibits micromolar binding affinity to BRD9 but nanomolar affinity for the ternary complex with BRD9 and VCB, with cooperativity comparable to classical molecular glues. This approach may enable the rational discovery of molecular glues for preselected proteins and thus facilitate the transition to a new paradigm of small-molecule therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Liu
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad
Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard
University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Bingqi Tong
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad
Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard
University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jeremy W. Mason
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad
Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jonathan M. Ostrem
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad
Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Antonin Tutter
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Bruce K. Hua
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad
Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard
University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Sunny A. Tang
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard
University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Simone Bonazzi
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Karin Briner
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Frédéric Berst
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, Basel, CH-4002, Switzerland
| | - Frédéric
J. Zécri
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Stuart L. Schreiber
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad
Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard
University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
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Peterson AA, Liu DR. Small-molecule discovery through DNA-encoded libraries. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:699-722. [PMID: 37328653 PMCID: PMC10924799 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00713-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The development of bioactive small molecules as probes or drug candidates requires discovery platforms that enable access to chemical diversity and can quickly reveal new ligands for a target of interest. Within the past 15 years, DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology has matured into a widely used platform for small-molecule discovery, yielding a wide variety of bioactive ligands for many therapeutically relevant targets. DELs offer many advantages compared with traditional screening methods, including efficiency of screening, easily multiplexed targets and library selections, minimized resources needed to evaluate an entire DEL and large library sizes. This Review provides accounts of recently described small molecules discovered from DELs, including their initial identification, optimization and validation of biological properties including suitability for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander A Peterson
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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13
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Han X, Sun Y. PROTACs: A novel strategy for cancer drug discovery and development. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e290. [PMID: 37261210 PMCID: PMC10227178 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology has become a powerful strategy in drug discovery, especially for undruggable targets/proteins. A typical PROTAC degrader consists of three components: a small molecule that binds to a target protein, an E3 ligase ligand (consisting of an E3 ligase and its small molecule recruiter), and a chemical linker that hooks first two components together. In the past 20 years, we have witnessed advancement of multiple PROTAC degraders into the clinical trials for anticancer therapies. However, one of the major challenges of PROTAC technology is that only very limited number of E3 ligase recruiters are currently available as E3 ligand for targeted protein degradation (TPD), although human genome encodes more than 600 E3 ligases. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify additional effective E3 ligase recruiters for TPD applications. In this review, we summarized the existing RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase and their small molecule recruiters that act as effective E3 ligands of PROTAC degraders and their application in anticancer drug discovery. We believe that this review could serve as a reference in future development of efficient E3 ligands of PROTAC technology for cancer drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Han
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and InterventionChina National Ministry of Education) of the Second Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Translational MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for CANCERZhejiang ProvinceChina
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical SciencesZhejiang ProvinceChina
| | - Yi Sun
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and InterventionChina National Ministry of Education) of the Second Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Translational MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for CANCERZhejiang ProvinceChina
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical SciencesZhejiang ProvinceChina
- Research Center for Life Science and Human HealthBinjiang Institute of Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
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