Featured Publications
The Advantages of Targeted Protein Degradation Over Inhibition: An RTK Case Study
Burslem GM, Smith BE, Lai AC, Jaime-Figueroa S, McQuaid DC, Bondeson DP, Toure M, Dong H, Qian Y, Wang J, Crew AP, Hines J, Crews CM. The Advantages of Targeted Protein Degradation Over Inhibition: An RTK Case Study. Cell Chemical Biology 2017, 25: 67-77.e3. PMID: 29129716, PMCID: PMC5831399, DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2017.09.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsReceptor tyrosine kinasesProtein familyProtein degradationTyrosine kinaseDownstream signaling responseTargeted Protein DegradationDevelopment of PROTACsTargeted degradationEndogenous proteinsSignaling responseChimera technologyCell proliferationPROTACsPROTAC technologyKinaseKinase inhibitorsLigand showAdvantages of degradationReceptor tyrosine kinase inhibitorsTyrosine kinase inhibitorsInhibitionDegradationFamilyPowerful toolProteolysisInduced 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 ResearchConceptsProteolysis-targeting chimaerasProtein degradationUndruggable proteomeTarget protein degradationDifferent E3 ligasesInhibitor-based approachE3 ligasesDrug discovery platformProtein targetsProteomeDiscovery platformProtein expressionDrug discovery paradigmInhibition approachCell culturesDiscovery paradigmLigasesExact mechanismDegradationMouse modelDegradersProteinChimaerasPicomolar potencyModular PROTAC Design for the Degradation of Oncogenic BCR‐ABL
Lai AC, Toure M, Hellerschmied D, Salami J, Jaime‐Figueroa S, Ko E, Hines J, Crews CM. Modular PROTAC Design for the Degradation of Oncogenic BCR‐ABL. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2015, 55: 807-810. PMID: 26593377, PMCID: PMC4733637, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201507634.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2022
OligoTRAFTACs: A generalizable method for transcription factor degradation
Samarasinghe KTG, An E, Genuth MA, Chu L, Holley SA, Crews CM. OligoTRAFTACs: A generalizable method for transcription factor degradation. RSC Chemical Biology 2022, 3: 1144-1153. PMID: 36128504, PMCID: PMC9428672, DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00138a.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTranscription factorsOncogenic transcription factorGene expression circuitryTranscription factor degradationDNA binding abilityChordoma cell linesProteasomal degradationProteasomal pathwayZebrafish experimentsC-MycGeneralizable platformKey playersCell linesBrachyurySmall moleculesFactor degradationBinding abilityGeneralizable methodDegradationChimerasPathwayOligonucleotidePocketFirst generationPROTACs: past, present and future
Li K, Crews CM. PROTACs: past, present and future. Chemical Society Reviews 2022, 51: 5214-5236. PMID: 35671157, PMCID: PMC10237031, DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00193d.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProtein of interestProteolysis-targeting chimerasUbiquitin-proteasome systemE3 ubiquitin ligaseSmall molecule inhibitorsUbiquitin ligaseNonenzymatic functionProtein degradationHeterobifunctional moleculesDrug resistance mechanismsMolecule inhibitorsSubsequent degradationUbiquitinationLigasePromising therapeuticsProteinChimerasPotential toxicityDegradationMechanismHijacking Methyl Reader Proteins for Nuclear-Specific Protein Degradation
Nalawansha DA, Li K, Hines J, Crews CM. Hijacking Methyl Reader Proteins for Nuclear-Specific Protein Degradation. Journal Of The American Chemical Society 2022, 144: 5594-5605. PMID: 35311258, PMCID: PMC10331457, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c00874.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsE3 ligase complexLigase complexProtein degradationReader proteinsMethyl readersE3 ligaseProteasomal degradationPROTAC designProtein levelsProteinLigand pairsDrug discovery paradigmPROTACsNatural mechanismGeneralizable approachComplexesDiscovery paradigmCUL4BRD2DegradationLigaseL3MBTL3FKBP12Biological evaluationPromising strategy
2021
Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) come of age: entering the third decade of targeted protein degradation
Bond MJ, Crews CM. Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) come of age: entering the third decade of targeted protein degradation. RSC Chemical Biology 2021, 2: 725-742. PMID: 34212149, PMCID: PMC8190915, DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00011j.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTargeted 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 modalityHomeostasisChimerasCellsAccumulationTargeted degradation of transcription factors by TRAFTACs: TRAnscription Factor TArgeting Chimeras
Samarasinghe KTG, Jaime-Figueroa S, Burgess M, Nalawansha DA, Dai K, Hu Z, Bebenek A, Holley SA, Crews CM. Targeted degradation of transcription factors by TRAFTACs: TRAnscription Factor TArgeting Chimeras. Cell Chemical Biology 2021, 28: 648-661.e5. PMID: 33836141, PMCID: PMC8524358, DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.03.011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTranscription factorsTargeted degradationTranscription factor degradationDNA-binding proteinsMultiple signaling pathwaysGeneralizable strategyDCas9 proteinProtein familyLigandable sitesProteasomal pathwaySignaling pathwaysOverexpression of oncoproteinsAberrant activationChimeric oligonucleotideProteinChimerasFactor degradationNF-κBPathwayHaloTagDegradationBrachyuryOverexpressionOncoproteinOligonucleotideMajor advances in targeted protein degradation: PROTACs, LYTACs, and MADTACs
Alabi SB, Crews C. Major advances in targeted protein degradation: PROTACs, LYTACs, and MADTACs. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2021, 296: 100647. PMID: 33839157, PMCID: PMC8131913, DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100647.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProtein degradationProtein degradation pathwaysProteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technologyUbiquitin-proteasome systemEndo-lysosomal pathwaySmall molecule inhibitorsDruggable spaceChemical toolsInnovative chemical toolMolecular glueChimera technologyProtein moleculesDegradation pathwayOutstanding questionsCurrent understandingMajor advancesPathwayAutophagyPROTACsDegradationCellsInhibitorsAdvances
2018
Efficient Synthesis of Immunomodulatory Drug Analogues Enables Exploration of Structure–Degradation Relationships
Burslem GM, Ottis P, Jaime‐Figueroa S, Morgan A, Cromm PM, Toure M, Crews C. Efficient Synthesis of Immunomodulatory Drug Analogues Enables Exploration of Structure–Degradation Relationships. ChemMedChem 2018, 13: 1508-1512. PMID: 29870139, PMCID: PMC6291207, DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800271.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOne-pot synthesisIMiD analoguesStructure-activity relationshipsNarrow structure-activity relationshipMultiple purification stepsEfficient synthesisStepwise routePurification stepsSynthesisAnti-proliferative activityRapid accessProtein cereblonAiolos degradationFunctionalizationAnaloguesCompoundsMoleculesDegradationHereinPurificationRouteAffinityCereblon
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 ResearchConceptsChemical 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 strategyDegradationProbeLigases
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 ResearchConceptsSmall molecule modulatorsProtein levelsSmall-molecule probesUbiquitin-proteasome systemActivity of proteinsIntracellular protein levelsBiological probesProteasome systemProtein degradationUbiquitin-proteasomeProtein activitySmall moleculesMolecule controlDruggable targetsProteomeProteasomeTargeted fashionProteinRemaining majorityGlobal increaseProbeUPSMoleculesDegradationMultiple strategies
2011
Small-molecule hydrophobic tagging–induced degradation of HaloTag fusion proteins
Neklesa TK, Tae HS, Schneekloth AR, Stulberg MJ, Corson TW, Sundberg TB, Raina K, Holley SA, Crews CM. Small-molecule hydrophobic tagging–induced degradation of HaloTag fusion proteins. Nature Chemical Biology 2011, 7: 538-543. PMID: 21725302, PMCID: PMC3139752, DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.597.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2010
Chemical Inducers of Targeted Protein Degradation*
Raina K, Crews CM. Chemical Inducers of Targeted Protein Degradation*. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2010, 285: 11057-11060. PMID: 20147751, PMCID: PMC2856979, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.r109.078105.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProtein degradationTargeted Protein DegradationPost-translational levelSubsequent phenotypic analysisProtein functionSelective gene inactivationCellular proteinsCellular phenotypesRNA interferenceGene inactivationSpecific proteinsChemical inducersPhenotypic analysisChemical inductionGenetic mutationsProteinGenesDegradationMutationsPhenotypeDecreased productionMRNAInducerInactivationInduction
2001
Protacs: Chimeric molecules that target proteins to the Skp1–Cullin–F box complex for ubiquitination and degradation
Sakamoto K, Kim K, Kumagai A, Mercurio F, Crews C, Deshaies R. Protacs: Chimeric molecules that target proteins to the Skp1–Cullin–F box complex for ubiquitination and degradation. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2001, 98: 8554-8559. PMID: 11438690, PMCID: PMC37474, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.141230798.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSkp1-CullinF-box complexAttachment of ubiquitinUbiquitin-dependent proteolysisMetAP-2Disease-causing proteinsMethionine aminopeptidase 2SCF complexBeta-TRCPConditional inactivationBox complexChimeric moleculesProteinUbiquitinationIntracellular levelsUbiquitinChimeric compoundsAngiogenesis inhibitorsHRT1ComplexesPhosphopeptidesDomainProteolysisEnzymeDegradation