Efforts to develop potent small molecule inhibitors for protein regulation have faced challenges in targeting undruggable proteins due to the limitations of small molecule topology. The emerging strategy of protein degron, which involves molecules or complexes specifically designed to target and catalyze protein degradation, offers a promising solution. Unlike traditional inhibitors, degraders facilitate protein degradation through ubiquitination tagging, initiating the endogenous protein degradation pathway in a catalytic mode. This approach provides novel opportunities to precisely manipulate protein fates, expanding the toolbox of protein function regulators.
The collection on targeted degradation at nature.com invites original articles across various areas, including proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTAC), lysosome-targeting chimeras (LYTAC), macroautophagy degradation targeting chimera (MADTAC), degradative nanostructures, and other innovative protein degron formats. Beyond the development of these formats, contributions related to mechanism exploration, customized targeting approaches, and applications in new disease models are encouraged. Institutions such as La Trobe University in Australia, Texas A&M University in the United States, and the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica in China are actively involved in advancing research in this field.
Authors interested in submitting their manuscripts for consideration as part of the “Targeted degradation” collection in Scientific Reports can follow the detailed steps provided on the submission page. Manuscripts can be submitted as a guest edited collection, and authors should highlight their interest in the collection in their cover letter. Accepted papers are published continuously as soon as they are prepared. In addition to targeted degradation, Scientific Reports also welcomes original research in Biological sciences, providing a platform for researchers in this field to share their latest findings.
The utilization of targeted degradation strategies, such as PROTACs and LYTACs, presents a promising avenue for precise protein regulation by inducing targeted protein degradation through ubiquitination tagging. This approach offers a catalytic mode of action, enabling the manipulation of protein fates with high specificity and efficiency. By exploring innovative protein degron formats and mechanisms, researchers can expand the applications of targeted degradation in various biological contexts and disease models.
Institutions like La Trobe University, Texas A&M University, and the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica are at the forefront of researching and developing targeted degradation strategies, showcasing the global interest and collaboration in this evolving field. The collection on targeted degradation at nature.com provides a platform for researchers to contribute original articles and advance the understanding of protein regulation through innovative degrader technologies. As the field of targeted degradation continues to evolve, there is a growing emphasis on customized targeting approaches and their potential applications in addressing unmet medical needs.
- Targeted degradation strategies offer a unique approach to protein regulation by inducing precise protein degradation through ubiquitination tagging.
- The nature.com collection on targeted degradation welcomes diverse contributions, including innovative degron formats and mechanism exploration.
- Institutions worldwide, such as La Trobe University and Texas A&M University, are actively involved in advancing research in targeted degradation.
- By leveraging targeted degradation technologies, researchers can expand the toolbox of protein function regulators and explore new avenues for therapeutic interventions.
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