Featured Publications
Induced protein degradation: an emerging drug discovery paradigm
Lai AC, Crews CM. Induced protein degradation: an emerging drug discovery paradigm. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 2016, 16: 101-114. PMID: 27885283, PMCID: PMC5684876, DOI: 10.1038/nrd.2016.211.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsDrug DiscoveryHigh-Throughput Screening AssaysHumansMutant Chimeric ProteinsProtein BindingProteinsProteomicsSmall Molecule LibrariesConceptsProteolysis-targeting chimaerasProtein degradationUndruggable proteomeTarget protein degradationDifferent E3 ligasesInhibitor-based approachE3 ligasesDrug discovery platformProtein targetsProteomeDiscovery platformProtein expressionDrug discovery paradigmInhibition approachCell culturesDiscovery paradigmLigasesExact mechanismDegradationMouse modelDegradersProteinChimaerasPicomolar potencyCatalytic in vivo protein knockdown by small-molecule PROTACs
Bondeson DP, Mares A, Smith IE, Ko E, Campos S, Miah AH, Mulholland KE, Routly N, Buckley DL, Gustafson JL, Zinn N, Grandi P, Shimamura S, Bergamini G, Faelth-Savitski M, Bantscheff M, Cox C, Gordon DA, Willard RR, Flanagan JJ, Casillas LN, Votta BJ, den Besten W, Famm K, Kruidenier L, Carter PS, Harling JD, Churcher I, Crews CM. Catalytic in vivo protein knockdown by small-molecule PROTACs. Nature Chemical Biology 2015, 11: 611-617. PMID: 26075522, PMCID: PMC4629852, DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.1858.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAntineoplastic AgentsBinding SitesBiocatalysisBreast NeoplasmsFemaleHumansMCF-7 CellsMiceModels, MolecularMolecular Targeted TherapyNeoplasm ProteinsNeoplasm TransplantationProteasome Endopeptidase ComplexProtein BindingProteolysisReceptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinase 2Receptors, EstrogenSmall Molecule LibrariesUbiquitinUbiquitinationVon Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein
2021
Electrophilic Screening Platforms for Identifying Novel Covalent Ligands for E3 Ligases
Zheng S, Crews CM. Electrophilic Screening Platforms for Identifying Novel Covalent Ligands for E3 Ligases. Biochemistry 2021, 60: 2367-2370. PMID: 34152723, DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00301.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBiological AssayLigandsPeriodicals as TopicProteolysisProteomicsSmall Molecule LibrariesUbiquitin-Protein LigasesTargeted protein degradation: A promise for undruggable proteins
Samarasinghe KTG, Crews CM. Targeted protein degradation: A promise for undruggable proteins. Cell Chemical Biology 2021, 28: 934-951. PMID: 34004187, PMCID: PMC8286327, DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.04.011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProteolysis Targeting ChimerasUndruggable proteinsDisease-causing proteinsProtein degradation strategiesProteostasis mechanismsProtein homeostasisTranscription factorsProtein degradationHeterobifunctional moleculesProteinDegradation strategiesDisease initiationBiological effectsProteostasisDegradationPotential therapeutic modalityHomeostasisChimerasCellsAccumulation
2016
Small‐Molecule PROTACS: New Approaches to Protein Degradation
Toure M, Crews CM. Small‐Molecule PROTACS: New Approaches to Protein Degradation. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2016, 55: 1966-1973. PMID: 26756721, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201507978.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProteolysis-targeting chimerasProtein degradationCellular quality control machineryQuality control machineryNovel catalytic mechanismInhibitor-based approachDrug target spaceProtein functionControl machineryProtein classesProtein destructionCatalytic mechanismCellular levelActive siteTherapeutic potentialOff-target side effectsMachineryRecent reportsChimerasDegradationRecruitmentTherapeuticsInhibition
2015
HaloPROTACS: Use of Small Molecule PROTACs to Induce Degradation of HaloTag Fusion Proteins
Buckley DL, Raina K, Darricarrere N, Hines J, Gustafson JL, Smith IE, Miah AH, Harling JD, Crews CM. HaloPROTACS: Use of Small Molecule PROTACs to Induce Degradation of HaloTag Fusion Proteins. ACS Chemical Biology 2015, 10: 1831-1837. PMID: 26070106, PMCID: PMC4629848, DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.5b00442.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsHEK293 CellsHumansLigandsProtein BindingProteolysisRecombinant Fusion ProteinsSmall Molecule LibrariesUbiquitin-Protein LigasesConceptsChemical probesMore drug-like propertiesFusion proteinSmall-molecule PROTACsProtein degradationDrug-like propertiesE3 ligase ligandChemical genetic toolsSpecific E3 ligasesProtein of interestVHL ligandsHaloTag fusion proteinsE3 ligasesGenetic toolsHeterobifunctional moleculesNumerous proteinsHaloPROTACLigandsPROTACsProteinNovel classAttractive strategyDegradationProbeLigasesSmall‐Molecule‐Mediated Degradation of the Androgen Receptor through Hydrophobic Tagging
Gustafson JL, Neklesa TK, Cox CS, Roth AG, Buckley DL, Tae HS, Sundberg TB, Stagg DB, Hines J, McDonnell DP, Norris JD, Crews CM. Small‐Molecule‐Mediated Degradation of the Androgen Receptor through Hydrophobic Tagging. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2015, 54: 9659-9662. PMID: 26083457, PMCID: PMC4547777, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201503720.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAndrogen Receptor AntagonistsAntineoplastic AgentsBenzamidesCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationDrug Resistance, NeoplasmHumansHydrophobic and Hydrophilic InteractionsMaleNitrilesPhenylthiohydantoinPoint MutationProstateProstatic NeoplasmsProteolysisReceptors, AndrogenSmall Molecule LibrariesConceptsSelective androgen receptor degradersAndrogen receptorAR mutationsAndrogen-dependent prostate cancer cell lineSecond-generation AR antagonistsAR degradationProstate tumor cell proliferationProstate cancer cell linesAR target genesTumor cell proliferationAntitumor chemotherapeutic agentsCancer cell linesAR antagonistsChemotherapeutic agentsCell proliferationAR ligandsCell linesAntagonistTumor strategyResistance mechanismsReceptorsRecent studiesProliferationTarget genesDependent transcription
2014
Small‐Molecule Control of Intracellular Protein Levels through Modulation of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System
Buckley DL, Crews CM. Small‐Molecule Control of Intracellular Protein Levels through Modulation of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2014, 53: 2312-2330. PMID: 24459094, PMCID: PMC4348030, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201307761.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsDrug DesignHumansProteasome Endopeptidase ComplexProteasome InhibitorsProteinsProteolysisSmall Molecule LibrariesUbiquitinUbiquitin-Protein Ligase ComplexesConceptsSmall molecule modulatorsProtein levelsSmall-molecule probesUbiquitin-proteasome systemActivity of proteinsIntracellular protein levelsBiological probesProteasome systemProtein degradationUbiquitin-proteasomeProtein activitySmall moleculesMolecule controlDruggable targetsProteomeProteasomeTargeted fashionProteinRemaining majorityGlobal increaseProbeUPSMoleculesDegradationMultiple strategies
2013
A Bidirectional System for the Dynamic Small Molecule Control of Intracellular Fusion Proteins
Neklesa TK, Noblin DJ, Kuzin A, Lew S, Seetharaman J, Acton TB, Kornhaber G, Xiao R, Montelione G, Tong L, Crews CM. A Bidirectional System for the Dynamic Small Molecule Control of Intracellular Fusion Proteins. ACS Chemical Biology 2013, 8: 2293-2300. PMID: 23978068, PMCID: PMC4113957, DOI: 10.1021/cb400569k.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSmall molecule controlProtein functionFusion proteinMolecule controlIntracellular fusion proteinOncogenic H-RasCellular protein levelsProtein of interestProtein levelsSmall-molecule screenIntracellular protein levelsDose-dependent regulationCellular transformationH-RasMolecule screenPhysiological roleProteinTherapeutic targetDose-dependent mannerHydrophobic tagUbiquitinationBidirectional controlHSP70DehalogenaseRegulation
2010
Targeting the Undruggable Proteome: The Small Molecules of My Dreams
Crews CM. Targeting the Undruggable Proteome: The Small Molecules of My Dreams. Cell Chemical Biology 2010, 17: 551-555. PMID: 20609404, PMCID: PMC2925121, DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2010.05.011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsDrug DesignGeneticsHigh-Throughput Screening AssaysHumansProteomeSmall Molecule LibrariesConceptsTraditional genetic screensGenetic screenSmall moleculesUndruggable proteomeChemical genetic approachActive small moleculesSmall druglike moleculesSmall molecule librariesAreas of biologyChemical geneticsOrganismal levelDruglike moleculesDrug development effortsGenetic approachesCell biologyPharmaceutical interestBiological processesMolecule librariesPhenotypic changesMoleculesProteomeEarlier compoundsBiologyScreenNew bioassay