PROTACtechnikák

PROTACtechnológia, or Proteolysis Targeting Chimera technology, is a groundbreaking approach in drug discovery. It leverages the cell's natural protein degradation machinery to selectively remove disease-causing proteins. Unlike traditional drugs that inhibit protein function, PROTACs aim to eliminate the target protein entirely.

A PROTAC molecule is bifunctional, consisting of three key components: a ligand that binds to the target protein, a ligand that binds to an E3 ubiquitin ligase (an enzyme involved in protein degradation), and a linker connecting these two ligands. The PROTAC molecule brings the target protein and the E3 ligase into close proximity. This proximity allows the E3 ligase to ubiquitously tag the target protein with ubiquitin molecules.

Once ubiquitinated, the target protein is recognized by the proteasome, the cell's protein degradation complex, and is broken down into small peptides. This mechanism offers several advantages, including the ability to target proteins previously considered "undruggable" by traditional methods, and the potential for prolonged efficacy due to the degradation of the protein rather than just inhibition of its activity. PROTAC technology is being actively explored for therapeutic applications in various diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.