Repurposing E3 ubiquitin ligases as cell surface protein degraders using Proteolysis Targeting Antibodies
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: The majority of current therapeutics targeting plasma membrane receptors function by antagonizing ligand binding or enzymatic activities. Typical mammalian proteins, however, consist of multiple domains executing discrete but coordinated activities, and saturating inhibition of one functional domain often incompletely suppresses the totality of the protein’s function. Recent work on targeted protein degradation technologies including Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) has highlighted clinically important distinctions between target inhibition and target degradation. However, the generation of heterobifunctional compounds requiring linkage of two small molecules, each with high affinity for their targets, is highly complex, particularly with respect to achieving oral bioavailability. Here we describe the development of Proteolysis Targeting Antibodies (PROTABs) that tether cell-surface E3 ubiquitin ligases to transmembrane proteins, resulting in target ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. PROTAB-mediated degradation drives deeper pathway inhibition than inhibitory antibodies and is functional in vivo. The scope of this technology is also demonstrated through the identification of additional cell surface E3 ubiquitin ligases that can function as “on demand” degraders of various cell surface proteins. The generality of this approach enables tissue-selective degradation, as suggested by the Wnt-responsive ligases RNF43 and ZNRF3. Furthermore, through engineering of various optimized antibody formats, we offer insights on the ground rules governing optimal target degradation. Taken together, this work describes a strategy for the rapid development of potent, bioavailable and tissue selective degradation of cell surface proteins.
Project description:The majority of current therapeutics targeting plasma membrane receptors function by antagonizing ligand binding or enzymatic activities. Typical mammalian proteins, however, consist of multiple domains executing discrete but coordinated activities, and saturating inhibition of one functional domain often incompletely suppresses the totality of the protein's function. Recent work on targeted protein degradation technologies including Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) has highlighted clinically important distinctions between target inhibition and target degradation. However, the generation of heterobifunctional compounds requiring linkage of two small molecules, each with high affinity for their targets, is highly complex, particularly with respect to achieving oral bioavailability. Here we describe the development of Proteolysis Targeting Antibodies (PROTABs) that tether cell-surface E3 ubiquitin ligases to transmembrane proteins, resulting in target ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. PROTAB-mediated degradation drives deeper pathway inhibition than inhibitory antibodies and is functional in vivo. The scope of this technology is also demonstrated through the identification of additional cell surface E3 ubiquitin ligases that can function as on demand degraders of various cell surface proteins. The generality of this approach enables tissue-selective degradation, as suggested by the Wnt-responsive ligases RNF43 and ZNRF3. Furthermore, through engineering of various optimized antibody formats, we offer insights on the ground rules governing optimal target degradation. Taken together, this work describes a strategy for the rapid development of potent, bioavailable and tissue selective degradation of cell surface proteins.
Project description:PROteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are bifunctional molecules that degrade target proteins through recruiting E3 ligases. However, their application is limited in part because few E3 ligases can be recruited by known E3 ligase ligands. In this study, we identified piperlongumine (PL), a natural product, as a covalent E3 ligase recruiter, which induces CDK9 degradation when it is conjugated with SNS032, a CDK9 inhibitor. The lead conjugate 955 can potently degrade CDK9 in a ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent manner and is much more potent than SNS-032 against various tumor cells in vitro. Mechanistically, we identified KEAP1 as the E3 ligase recruited by 955 to degrade CDK9 through a TurboID-based proteomics study, which was further confirmed by KEAP1 knockout and the nanoBRET ternary complex formation assay. In addition, PL-Ceritinib conjugate can degrade EML4-ALK fusion oncoprotein, suggesting that PL may have a broader application as a covalent E3 ligase ligand in targeted protein degradation.
Project description:Heterobifunctional proteolysis-targeting chimeric compounds leverage the activity of E3 ligases to induce degradation of target oncoproteins and exhibit potent preclinical antitumor activity. To dissect the mechanisms regulating tumor cell sensitivity to different classes of pharmacological "degraders" of oncoproteins, we performed genome-scale CRISPR/Cas9-based gene-editing studies. We observed that myeloma cell resistance to "degraders" of different targets (BET bromodomain proteins, CDK9) and operating through CRBN (degronimids) or VHL is primarily mediated by prevention of, rather than adaptation to, breakdown of the target oncoprotein; involves loss-of-function for the cognate E3 ligase or interactors/regulators of the respective cullin-RING ligase (CRL) complex. The substantial gene-level differences for CRBN- vs. VHL-based degraders explains mechanistically the lack of cross-resistance for degraders targeting the same protein via different E3 ligase/CRLs.
Project description:E3 ubiquitin ligases are key enzymes within the ubiquitin proteasome system which catalyze the ubiquitination of proteins, targeting them for proteasomal degradation. E3 ligases are gaining importance as targets to small molecules, both for direct inhibition and to be hijacked to induce the degradation of non-native neo-substrates using bivalent compounds known as PROTACs (for ‘proteolysis-targeting chimeras’). We describe Homo-PROTACs as an approach to dimerize an E3 ligase to trigger its suicide-type chemical knockdown inside cells. We provide proof-of-concept of Homo-PROTACs using diverse molecules composed of two instances of a ligand for the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3 ligase. The most active compound, CM11, dimerizes VHL with high avidity in vitro and induces potent, rapid and proteasome-dependent self-degradation of VHL in different cell lines, in a highly isoform-selective fashion and without triggering a hypoxic response. This approach offers a novel chemical probe for selective VHL knockdown, and demonstrates the potential for a new modality of chemical intervention on E3 ligases.
Project description:Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are bifunctional molecules that induce selective protein degradation by linking an E3 ubiquitin ligase enzyme to a target protein. Here we used transporter-focused and genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 as well as a barcoded solute carriere (SLC)-focused cDNA libraray to screen for transporters that are involved in the resistance or sensitivity to BET- and SLC9-targeting PROTACs.
Project description:Targeted protein degradation is a novel pharmacology established by drugs that recruit target proteins to E3 ubiquitin ligases. Based on the structure of the degrader and the target, different E3 interfaces are critically involved, thus forming defined "functional hotspots". Understanding disruptive mutations in functional hotspots informs on the architecture of the assembly, and highlights residues susceptible to acquire resistance phenotypes. Here, we employ haploid genetics to show that hotspot mutations cluster in substrate receptors of hijacked ligases, where mutation type and frequency correlate with gene essentiality. A Hybrid capture assay reveals resistance-conferring mutations after degrader treatment. 29 putative target genes were selected to be sequenced. Target gene enrichment from gDNA of treated cells was performed, followed by amplification and sequencing to identify mutations.
Project description:Proctor2007 - Age related decline of proteolysis, ubiquitin-proteome system
This
is a stochastic model of the ubiquitin-proteasome system for a
generic pool of native proteins (NatP), which have a half-life of
about 10 hours under normal conditions. It is assumed that these
proteins are only degraded after they have lost their native
structure due to a damage event. This is represented in the model
by the misfolding reaction which depends on the level of reactive
oxygen species (ROS) in the cell. Misfolded proteins (MisP) are
first bound by an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Ubiquitin (Ub) is
activated by E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme) and then passed to
E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme). The E2 enzyme then passes the
ubiquitin molecule to the E3/MisP complex with the net effect
that the misfolded protein is monoubiquitinated and both E2 and
E3 are released. Further ubiquitin molecules are added in a
step-wise manner. When the chain of ubiquitin molecules is of
length 4 or more, the polyubiquitinated misfolded protein may
bind to the proteasome. The model also includes de-ubiquitinating
enzymes (DUB) which cleave ubiquitin molecules from the chain in
a step-wise manner. They work on chains attached to misfolded
proteins both unbound and bound to the proteasomes. Misfolded
proteins bound to the proteasome may be degraded releasing
ubiquitin. Misfolded proteins including ubiquitinated proteins
may also aggregate. Aggregates (AggP) may be sequestered
(Seq_AggP) which takes them out of harm's way or they may bind to
the proteasome (AggP_Proteasome). Proteasomes bound by aggregates
are no longer available for protein degradation.
Figure
2 and Figure 3 has been simulated using Gillespie2.
This model is described in the article:
An in silico model of the
ubiquitin-proteasome system that incorporates normal
homeostasis and age-related decline.
Proctor CJ, Tsirigotis M, Gray
DA.
BMC Syst Biol 2007; 1: 17
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The ubiquitin-proteasome system is responsible
for homeostatic degradation of intact protein substrates as
well as the elimination of damaged or misfolded proteins that
might otherwise aggregate. During ageing there is a decline in
proteasome activity and an increase in aggregated proteins.
Many neurodegenerative diseases are characterised by the
presence of distinctive ubiquitin-positive inclusion bodies in
affected regions of the brain. These inclusions consist of
insoluble, unfolded, ubiquitinated polypeptides that fail to be
targeted and degraded by the proteasome. We are using a systems
biology approach to try and determine the primary event in the
decline in proteolytic capacity with age and whether there is
in fact a vicious cycle of inhibition, with accumulating
aggregates further inhibiting proteolysis, prompting
accumulation of aggregates and so on. A stochastic model of the
ubiquitin-proteasome system has been developed using the
Systems Biology Mark-up Language (SBML). Simulations are
carried out on the BASIS (Biology of Ageing e-Science
Integration and Simulation) system and the model output is
compared to experimental data wherein levels of ubiquitin and
ubiquitinated substrates are monitored in cultured cells under
various conditions. The model can be used to predict the
effects of different experimental procedures such as inhibition
of the proteasome or shutting down the enzyme cascade
responsible for ubiquitin conjugation. RESULTS: The model
output shows good agreement with experimental data under a
number of different conditions. However, our model predicts
that monomeric ubiquitin pools are always depleted under
conditions of proteasome inhibition, whereas experimental data
show that monomeric pools were depleted in IMR-90 cells but not
in ts20 cells, suggesting that cell lines vary in their ability
to replenish ubiquitin pools and there is the need to
incorporate ubiquitin turnover into the model. Sensitivity
analysis of the model revealed which parameters have an
important effect on protein turnover and aggregation kinetics.
CONCLUSION: We have developed a model of the
ubiquitin-proteasome system using an iterative approach of
model building and validation against experimental data. Using
SBML to encode the model ensures that it can be easily modified
and extended as more data become available. Important aspects
to be included in subsequent models are details of ubiquitin
turnover, models of autophagy, the inclusion of a pool of
short-lived proteins and further details of the aggregation
process.
This model is hosted on
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and identified by:
BIOMD0000000105.
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To the extent possible under law, all copyright and related or
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Project description:Targeted protein degradation is a novel pharmacology established by drugs that recruit target proteins to E3 ubiquitin ligases. Based on the structure of the degrader and the target, different E3 interfaces are critically involved, thus forming defined "functional hotspots". Understanding disruptive mutations in functional hotspots informs on the architecture of the assembly, and highlights residues susceptible to acquire resistance phenotypes. Here, deep mutational scanning revealed hotspots that are conserved or specific for chemically distinct degraders and targets and validated hotspots mutated in patients that relapse from degrader treatment.
Project description:In targeted protein degradation (TPD) a protein of interest is degraded by chemically induced proximity to an E3 ubiquitin ligase. One limitation of using TPD therapeutically is that most E3 ligases have broad tissue expression, which can contribute to toxicity via target degradation in healthy cells. Many pathogenic and oncogenic viruses encode E3 ligases (vE3s), which de facto have strictly limited expression to diseased cells. Here, we provide proof-of-concept for Viral E3 Pan-Essential Removing Targeting Chimeras (VIPER-TACs) that are bi-functional molecules that utilize viral E3 ubiquitin ligases to selectively degrade pan-essential proteins and eliminate diseased cells. We find that the human papillomavirus (HPV) ligase E6 can degrade the SARS1 pan-essential target protein in a model of HPV-positive cervical cancer to selectively kill E6 expressing cancer cells. Thus, VIPER-TACs have the capacity to dramatically increase the therapeutic window, alleviate toxicity concerns, and ultimately expand the potential target space for TPD.