Dual-ligand PROTACS mediate superior target protein degradation in vitro and therapeutic efficacy in vivo - UTU Research Portal

A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Dual-ligand PROTACS mediate superior target protein degradation in vitro and therapeutic efficacy in vivo

Authors: Chen, Yong; Xia, Zihan; Suwal, Ujjwal; Rappu, Pekka; Heino, Jyrki; De Wever, Olivier; De Geest, Bruno G.

Publisher: ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY

Publishing place: CAMBRIDGE

Publication year: 2024

Journal: Chemical Science

Journal name in source: CHEMICAL SCIENCE

Journal acronym: CHEM SCI

Volume: 15

Issue: 42

First page : 17691

Last page: 17701

Number of pages: 11

ISSN: 2041-6520

eISSN: 2041-6539

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d4sc03555k

Web address : https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SC03555K

Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/458680211

Abstract

Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are revolutionizing the drug development landscape due to their unique ability to selectively degrade disease-associated proteins. Conventional PROTACs are bivalent entities that induce ubiquitination and subsequent proteolysis of a chosen protein of interest (POI) by forming a ternary complex with an E3 ligase. We hypothesized that dual-ligand PROTACs, featuring two copies each of a POI ligand and an E3 ligase ligand, would facilitate the formation of high-avidity, long-lived ternary complexes inside cells, thereby increasing POI degradation potency. To this end, we developed a convergent synthesis route, using L-aspartic acid as a building block for homodimer synthesis, followed by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) to conjugate both dimers through a flexible linker. Dual-ligand PROTACs achieved up to a tenfold increase in degradation efficiency and a hundredfold increase in cytotoxicity in vitro across various cancer cell lines compared to their single-ligand counterparts. Furthermore, dual-ligand PROTACs sustain prolonged protein degradation, up to 60 hours after pulsing and washout. In vivo, in a mouse tumor model, the superior therapeutic activity of dual ligand PROTACs was observed.

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Funding information in the publication:
Y. C. is supported by the Ghent University-BOF Postdoctoral Fellowship (BOF20/PDO/054) and FWO senior Postdoctoral Fellowship (12A4B24N). Z. X. is supported by China Scholarship Council. J. H. is supported by Sigrid Jusélius Foundation and the Research Council of Finland (grants 362311 and 329743). Mass spectrometry analyses were performed at the Turku Proteomics Facility, University of Turku, supported by Biocenter Finland. BGDG acknowledges the FWO Flanders (grants 3G022521) and the Special Research Fund (BOF) of Ghent University (grant 01G00721) for funding.