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Updated: Apr 5, 2026
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Author Spotlight: Evaluating Biophysical Assays for Characterizing PROTACS Ternary Complexes
Published on: January 12, 2024
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Antibacterial PROTACs: the road ahead for next-generation antibiotics?
Andrea Milelli1, Simone Raimondi2, Somayeh Asgharpour3
1Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
Drug Discovery Today
|April 4, 2026
Summary
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) offers a novel strategy to combat antibiotic resistance by developing next-generation antibacterials. This approach leverages TPD
Area of Science:
- Microbiology and Pharmacology
- Drug Discovery and Development
Background:
- Antibiotics transformed medicine but are failing due to rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
- Developing new antibiotics with novel mechanisms is a critical global health priority.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of targeted protein degradation (TPD) for creating next-generation antibacterials.
- To review TPD's advantages over conventional antibiotics and current research in this field.
Main Methods:
- Review of current scientific literature on targeted protein degradation.
- Analysis of prokaryotic protein degradation systems.
- Examination of BacPROTAC technology for antibacterial applications.
Main Results:
- TPD presents a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics.
- TPD offers novel mechanisms of action to overcome existing resistance.
- BacPROTAC molecules are emerging as key tools in TPD for antibacterial development.
Conclusions:
- Targeted protein degradation holds significant potential for addressing the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
- Further research into prokaryotic TPD systems and BacPROTACs is crucial for developing effective next-generation antibacterials.
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