Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2025
05:11
Tuning Degradation to Achieve Specific and Efficient Protein Depletion
Published on: July 20, 2019
6.2K
Session 5: Protein Degraders
Kiran Palyada1, Renee Hukkanen2, Stephanie Leuenroth-Quinn3
1Pfizer Inc., La Jolla, California, USA.
Toxicologic Pathology
|December 11, 2024
Summary
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) offers a new approach to developing drugs for previously undruggable proteins by utilizing the cell's natural degradation pathways. This session explored TPD's challenges, toxicities, and development considerations.
Area of Science:
- Drug Development
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The
- undruggable
- proteome presents a significant challenge in drug discovery.
- Targeted protein degradation (TPD) has emerged as a promising therapeutic modality to address this challenge.
- TPD leverages the cell's endogenous ubiquitin-proteasome system for targeted protein elimination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the challenges and perspectives of utilizing protein degraders as novel therapeutic agents.
- To discuss the evaluation of on- and off-target toxicities associated with TPD.
- To present unique considerations for the development and safety assessment of degrader molecules.
Main Methods:
- Review of current TPD strategies and their application in drug development.
- Analysis of on- and off-target toxicities through an IQ Consortium working group survey.
- Presentation of unique absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties of degrader molecules.
- Discussion on the use of transgenic models for evaluating hemotoxicity.
- Case study illustrating the derisking of dose-limiting thrombocytopenia.
- Inclusion of a regulatory perspective on TPD-associated toxicities.
Main Results:
- TPD modalities are transitioning from academia to industry, offering new therapeutic avenues.
- Specific ADME properties of degrader molecules impact drug development and nonclinical safety.
- Hemotoxicity, particularly thrombocytopenia, is a key safety concern requiring careful evaluation.
- Transgenic models and case studies provide valuable insights into managing TPD-related toxicities.
Conclusions:
- Protein degraders represent a significant advancement in targeting previously undruggable proteins.
- Addressing unique ADME properties and potential toxicities, such as hemotoxicity, is crucial for successful TPD development.
- A multidisciplinary approach, including regulatory considerations, is essential for advancing TPD therapies.
Related Concept Videos
02:18The Proteasome
8.5K
Eukaryotic cells can degrade proteins through several pathways. One of the most important amongst these is the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. It helps the cell eliminate the misfolded, damaged, or unwarranted cytoplasmic proteins in a highly specific manner.
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. A series of enzymes carry out the ubiquitination of the target proteins - E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3...
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. A series of enzymes carry out the ubiquitination of the target proteins - E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3...
8.5K
02:11Proteins: From Genes to Degradation
3.5K
3.5K
01:18Amino Acid Catabolism
1
Microorganisms rely on proteins as an essential carbon and energy source, particularly in environments with limited polysaccharides or lipids. However, proteins are too large to cross the plasma membrane unaided, necessitating enzymatic degradation. Microbes secrete extracellular proteases and peptidases that hydrolyze proteins into peptides, which can then be transported across the membrane. Once inside the cell, intracellular proteases degrade these peptides into free amino acids, which...
1
02:58Regulated Protein Degradation
2.5K
2.5K
01:17The Proteasome Structure
697
The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is a well-known mechanism utilized by eukaryotic cells to remove cytoplasmic proteins that are misfolded, damaged, or no longer needed. In this pathway, the protein that needs to be eliminated undergoes a process called ubiquitination, where a chain of ubiquitin molecules is attached to the 48th lysine residue of the target protein. This ubiquitin modification helps the proteasome distinguish between a target protein and a healthy protein.
The proteasome is an...
The proteasome is an...
697
01:02Protein Digestion
102.6K
Protein digestion begins in the stomach, where the highly acidic environment can easily disrupt protein structure by exposing the peptide bonds of polypeptide chains. After polypeptide chains are broken into individual amino acids by a series of digestive enzymes, the amino acids are transported to the liver via the bloodstream to produce energy.
102.6K