04 January 2024 | Martin Schröder, Martin Renatus, Xiaoyou Liang, Fabian Meili, Thomas Zoller, Sandrine Ferrand, Francois Gautier, Xiaoyan Li, Frederic Sigoillot, Scott Gleim, Therese-Marie Stachyra, Jason R. Thomas, Damien Begue, Maryam Khoshouei, Peggy Lefevre, Rita Andraos-Rey, BoYee Chung, Renate Ma, Benika Pinch, Andreas Hofmann, Markus Schirle, Niko Schmiedeberg, Patricia Imbach, Delphine Gorses, Keith Calkins, Beatrice Bauer-Probst, Magdalena Maschle, Matt Niederst, Rob Maher, Martin Henault, John Alford, Erik Ahrne, Luca Tordella, Greg Hollingworth, Nicolas H. Thomä, Anna Vulpetti, Thomas Radimerski, Philipp Holzer, Seth Carboneau, Claudio R. Thoma
This study explores the use of DCAF1, an essential E3 ligase receptor, as a target for targeted protein degradation (TPD) using non-covalent binders. The authors developed a selective, non-covalent DCAF1 binder and validated its functionality as an efficient DCAF1-BRD9 PROTAC. Chemical and genetic rescue experiments confirmed specific degradation via the CRL4DCAF1 E3 ligase. Additionally, a dasatinib-based DCAF1 PROTAC successfully degraded cytosolic and membrane-bound tyrosine kinases. A potent and selective DCAF1-BTK-PROTAC (DBt-10) was shown to degrade BTK in cells with acquired resistance to CRBN-BTK-PROTACs, highlighting DCAF1-PROTACs as a promising strategy to overcome ligase-mediated resistance in clinical settings. The study also demonstrated that DCAF1-PROTACs can be used as an alternative to VHL-based degraders in cells lacking VHL expression or with acquired resistance to CRBN-based degraders.This study explores the use of DCAF1, an essential E3 ligase receptor, as a target for targeted protein degradation (TPD) using non-covalent binders. The authors developed a selective, non-covalent DCAF1 binder and validated its functionality as an efficient DCAF1-BRD9 PROTAC. Chemical and genetic rescue experiments confirmed specific degradation via the CRL4DCAF1 E3 ligase. Additionally, a dasatinib-based DCAF1 PROTAC successfully degraded cytosolic and membrane-bound tyrosine kinases. A potent and selective DCAF1-BTK-PROTAC (DBt-10) was shown to degrade BTK in cells with acquired resistance to CRBN-BTK-PROTACs, highlighting DCAF1-PROTACs as a promising strategy to overcome ligase-mediated resistance in clinical settings. The study also demonstrated that DCAF1-PROTACs can be used as an alternative to VHL-based degraders in cells lacking VHL expression or with acquired resistance to CRBN-based degraders.