Targeting Metal-Dependent Epigenetic Modulators via MetalloPROTACs

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Project Summary. While recent efforts have identified the need for methodologies capable of inactivating oncoproteins, current intervention strategies have left much of the proteome “undruggable.” In response the NCI has recognized this challenge as outlined in PAR-22-216 by incentivizing the development of new molecular targeting agents based on specific signaling pathways activated during the process of tumorigenesis or tumor progression. This program proposes an important next step in reaching these goals by providing a platform for the rapid development and characterization of heterobifunctional molecules capable of inducing degradation of cancer related metalloenzymes with new molecular targeting agents. In this program, our team will develop proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) containing state-of-the-art metal-binding pharmacophores (MBPs) with the ultimate goal of achieving isoform-selective degradation of jumonji C-domain containing lysine demethylases. Current strategies to inhibit conserved catalytic domain Jumonjis (JMJCs) involve targeting the α-ketoglutaric acid (2OG) substrate-accepting active site of JMJCs with inhibitors that can coordinate to the iron ion in the active site. Targeting the histone-binding helper domain of JMJCs generates additional isoform selectivity. However, no inhibitor has been shown to be selective for only one isoform of JMJCs. We have chosen to take a targeted degradation approach in order to increase the surface area of the peripheral interaction by recruiting an E3 ligase. This program will demonstrate how the potential protein- protein interaction induced by these chimeras can be leveraged to induce selective degradation of metalloproteins (`MetalloPROTACs') through rational MBP and linker design and will serve as a platform for the study of cancer biology, as well as laying the foundation for future development of therapeutic agents.