Exploiting the Cullin E3 Ligase Adaptor Protein SKP1 for Targeted Protein Degradation

ACS Chem Biol. 2024 Feb 16;19(2):442-450. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00642. Epub 2024 Feb 2.

Abstract

Targeted protein degradation with proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) is a powerful therapeutic modality for eliminating disease-causing proteins through targeted ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation. Most PROTACs have exploited substrate receptors of Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases such as cereblon and VHL. Whether core, shared, and essential components of the Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase complex can be used for PROTAC applications remains less explored. Here, we discovered a cysteine-reactive covalent recruiter EN884 against the SKP1 adapter protein of the SKP1-CUL1-F-box containing the SCF complex. We further showed that this recruiter can be used in PROTAC applications to degrade neo-substrate proteins such as BRD4 and the androgen receptor in a SKP1- and proteasome-dependent manner. Our studies demonstrate that core and essential adapter proteins within the Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase complex can be exploited for targeted protein degradation applications and that covalent chemoproteomic strategies can enable recruiter discovery against these targets.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Cullin Proteins* / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Proteolysis
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases* / metabolism

Substances

  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Cullin Proteins
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing