Targeted Protein O-GlcNAcylation Using Bifunctional Small Molecules

J Am Chem Soc. 2024 Apr 10;146(14):9779-9789. doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c14380. Epub 2024 Apr 1.

Abstract

Protein O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine modification (O-GlcNAcylation) plays a crucial role in regulating essential cellular processes. The disruption of the homeostasis of O-GlcNAcylation has been linked to various human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration. However, there are limited chemical tools for protein- and site-specific O-GlcNAc modification, rendering the precise study of the O-GlcNAcylation challenging. To address this, we have developed heterobifunctional small molecules, named O-GlcNAcylation TArgeting Chimeras (OGTACs), which enable protein-specific O-GlcNAcylation in living cells. OGTACs promote O-GlcNAcylation of proteins such as BRD4, CK2α, and EZH2 in cellulo by recruiting FKBP12F36V-fused O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), with temporal, magnitude, and reversible control. Overall, the OGTACs represent a promising approach for inducing protein-specific O-GlcNAcylation, thus enabling functional dissection and offering new directions for O-GlcNAc-targeting therapeutic development.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylglucosamine / metabolism
  • Bromodomain Containing Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / metabolism
  • Neoplasms*
  • Nuclear Proteins* / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases
  • Acetylglucosamine
  • BRD4 protein, human
  • Bromodomain Containing Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins