Structural Optimization of Decoy Oligonucleotide-Based PROTAC That Degrades the Estrogen Receptor

Bioconjug Chem. 2023 Oct 18;34(10):1780-1788. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00332. Epub 2023 Sep 22.

Abstract

Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have attracted attention as a chemical method of protein knockdown via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Some oligonucleotide-based PROTACs have recently been developed for disease-related proteins that do not have optimal small-molecule ligands such as transcription factors. We have previously developed the PROTAC LCL-ER(dec), which uses a decoy oligonucleotide as a target ligand for estrogen receptor α (ERα) as a model transcription factor. However, LCL-ER(dec) has a low intracellular stability because it comprises natural double-stranded DNA sequences. In the present study, we developed PROTACs containing chemically modified decoys to address this issue. Specifically, we introduced phosphorothioate modifications and hairpin structures into LCL-ER(dec). Among the newly designed PROTACs, LCL-ER(dec)-H46, with a T4 loop structure at the end of the decoy, showed long-term ERα degradation activity while acquiring enzyme tolerance. These findings suggest that the introduction of hairpin structures is a useful modification of oligonucleotides in decoy oligonucleotide-based PROTACs.

MeSH terms

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Oligonucleotides / metabolism
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Proteolysis
  • Proteolysis Targeting Chimera*
  • Receptors, Estrogen* / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Oligonucleotides
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Transcription Factors
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Proteolysis Targeting Chimera