VHL-based PROTACs as potential therapeutic agents: Recent progress and perspectives

Eur J Med Chem. 2022 Jan 5:227:113906. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113906. Epub 2021 Oct 9.

Abstract

Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which hijack proteins of interest (POIs) and recruit E3 ligases for target degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, are a novel drug discovery paradigm that has been widely used as biological tools and medicinal molecules with the potential of clinical application value. To date, a wide variety of small molecule PROTACs have been developed. Importantly, VHL-based PROTACs have emerged to be a promising approach for proteins, including those non-druggable ones, such as transcriptional factors and scaffold proteins. VHL-based PRTOACs have been developed for the treatment of diseases that are difficult to be dealt with by conventional methods, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and small molecule inhibitors. In this review, the recent advances of VHL-based PRTOACs were summarized, and the chances and challenges associated with this area were also highlighted.

Keywords: Degradation; PROTACs; Promising treatment; Ubiquitination; VHL.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Structure
  • Proteolysis / drug effects
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein
  • VHL protein, human