Open AccessDestruction of DNA‐Binding Proteins by Programmable Oligonucleotide PROTAC (O'PROTAC): Effective Targeting of LEF1 and ERG
Author(s) -
Shao Jingwei,
Yan Yuqian,
Ding Donglin,
Wang Dejie,
He Yundong,
Pan Yunqian,
Yan Wei,
Kharbanda Anupreet,
Li Hongyu,
Huang Haojie
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202102555
Subject(s) - ubiquitin ligase , proteasome , transcription factor , enhancer , fusion protein , ubiquitin , protein degradation , oligonucleotide , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , dna binding protein , biology , computational biology , dna , biochemistry , gene , recombinant dna
DNA‐binding proteins, including transcription factors (TFs), play essential roles in various cellular processes and pathogenesis of diseases, deeming to be potential therapeutic targets. However, these proteins are generally considered undruggable as they lack an enzymatic catalytic site or a ligand‐binding pocket. Proteolysis‐targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology has been developed by engineering a bifunctional molecule chimera to bring a protein of interest (POI) to the proximity of an E3 ubiquitin ligase, thus inducing the ubiquitination of POI and further degradation through the proteasome pathway. Here, the development of oligonucleotide‐based PROTAC (O'PROTACs), a class of noncanonical PROTACs in which a TF‐recognizing double‐stranded oligonucleotide is incorporated as a binding moiety of POI is reported. It is demonstrated that O'PROTACs of lymphoid enhancer‐binding factor 1 (LEF1) and ETS‐related gene (ERG), two highly cancer‐related transcription factors, successfully promote degradation of these proteins, impede their transcriptional activity, and inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. The programmable nature of O'PROTACs indicates that this approach is also applicable to destruct other TFs. O'PROTACs not only can serve as a research tool but also can be harnessed as a therapeutic arsenal to target DNA binding proteins for effective treatment of diseases such as cancer.