Chemically Induced Degradation of Sirtuin 2 (Sirt2) by a Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) Based on Sirtuin Rearranging Ligands (SirReals)

J Med Chem. 2018 Jan 25;61(2):482-491. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01872. Epub 2017 Apr 17.

Abstract

Here we report the development of a proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) based on the combination of the unique features of the sirtuin rearranging ligands (SirReals) as highly potent and isotype-selective Sirt2 inhibitors with thalidomide, a bona fide cereblon ligand. For the first time, we report the formation of a PROTAC by Cu(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition of a thalidomide-derived azide to an alkynylated inhibitor. This thalidomide-derived azide as well as the highly versatile linking strategy can be readily adapted to alkynylated ligands of other targets. In HeLa cells, our SirReal-based PROTAC induced isotype-selective Sirt2 degradation that results in the hyperacetylation of the microtubule network coupled with enhanced process elongation. Thus, our SirReal-based PROTAC is the first example of a probe that is able to chemically induce the degradation of an epigenetic eraser protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Cycloaddition Reaction
  • Drug Design
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Peptide Hydrolases / chemistry
  • Proteolysis / drug effects*
  • Sirtuin 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Sirtuin 2 / chemistry
  • Sirtuin 2 / metabolism*
  • Thalidomide / chemistry*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • CRBN protein, human
  • Ligands
  • Thalidomide
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • SIRT2 protein, human
  • Sirtuin 2