2. Academic Validation
  3. Co-opting the E3 ligase KLHDC2 for targeted protein degradation by small molecules

Co-opting the E3 ligase KLHDC2 for targeted protein degradation by small molecules

  • Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2024 Jan 4. doi: 10.1038/s41594-023-01146-w.
Christopher M Hickey # 1,  Katherine M Digianantonio # 1,  Kurt Zimmermann 1,  Alicia Harbin 1,  Connor Quinn 1,  Avani Patel 1,  Peter Gareiss 1,  Amanda Chapman 1,  Bernadette Tiberi 1 2,  Jennifer Dobrodziej 1 3,  John Corradi 1,  Angela M Cacace 1,  David R Langley 1,  Miklós Békés 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Arvinas, Inc, New Haven, CT, USA.
  • 2 Genetics, Genomics and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
  • 3 Accent Therapeutics Inc, Lexington, MA, USA.
  • 4 Arvinas, Inc, New Haven, CT, USA. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 38177675 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01146-w
Abstract

Targeted protein degradation (TPD) by PROTAC (proteolysis-targeting chimera) and molecular glue small molecules is an emerging therapeutic strategy. To expand the roster of E3 Ligases that can be utilized for TPD, we describe the discovery and biochemical characterization of small-molecule ligands targeting the E3 ligase KLHDC2. Furthermore, we functionalize these KLHDC2-targeting ligands into KLHDC2-based BET-family and AR PROTAC degraders and demonstrate KLHDC2-dependent target-protein degradation. Additionally, we offer insight into the assembly of the KLHDC2 E3 ligase complex. Using biochemical binding studies, X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, we show that the KLHDC2 E3 ligase assembles into a dynamic tetramer held together via its own C terminus, and that this assembly can be modulated by substrate and ligand engagement.

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