PROTACs suppression of GSK-3β, a crucial kinase in neurodegenerative diseases

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is involved in a variety of diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, bipolar disorder, and diabetes. In this study, a series of heterobifunctional small molecule proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) were designed and synthesized based on E3 ubiquitin ligase cereblon (CRBN). Most of PROTACs displayed good inhibitory activity, with the IC₅₀ values at the double-digits nanomolar levels and moderate protein degradation ability against GSK-3β. Western-blot data showed compound PG21 can effectively degrade GSK-3β in a dose-dependent manner, which can induce 44.2% protein degradation at 2.8 μM. Further pharmacological experiments revealed that the ability of PG21 to degrade GSK-3β is mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). In addition, PG21 protects against glutamate-induced cell death in HT-22 cells. As the first PROTAC example to degrade GSK-3β protein, the present study has provided potential candidates for further investigation in the biological function of GSK-3β protein and its association with diseases.