PROTAC-Mediated Selective Degradation of Cytosolic Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Enhances ER Stress Reduction

ACS Chem Biol. 2023 Apr 21;18(4):884-896. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00017. Epub 2023 Mar 22.

Abstract

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is a bifunctional enzyme responsible for lipid metabolism and is a promising drug target. Here, we report the first-in-class PROTAC small-molecule degraders of sEH. Our optimized PROTAC selectively targets the degradation of cytosolic but not peroxisomal sEH, resulting in exquisite spatiotemporal control. Remarkably, our sEH PROTAC molecule has higher potency in cellular assays compared to the parent sEH inhibitor as measured by the significantly reduced ER stress. Interestingly, our mechanistic data indicate that our PROTAC directs the degradation of cytosolic sEH via the lysosome, not through the proteasome. The molecules presented here are useful chemical probes to study the biology of sEH with the potential for therapeutic development. Broadly, our results represent a proof of concept for the superior cellular potency of sEH degradation over sEH enzymatic inhibition, as well as subcellular compartment-selective modulation of a protein by PROTACs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress* / physiology
  • Epoxide Hydrolases* / chemistry
  • Epoxide Hydrolases* / metabolism
  • Proteolysis Targeting Chimera* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Epoxide Hydrolases
  • Proteolysis Targeting Chimera