Fluorescent probes and degraders of the sterol transport protein Aster-A

Bioorg Med Chem. 2024 Mar 2;103:117673. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117673. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTOur understanding of sterol transport proteins (STPs) has increased exponentially in the last decades with advances in the cellular and structural biology of these important proteins. However, small molecule probes have only recently been developed for a few selected STPs. Here we describe the synthesis and evaluation of potential proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) based on inhibitors of the STP Aster-A. Based on the reported Aster-A inhibitor autogramin-2, ten PROTACs were synthesized. Pomalidomide-based PROTACs functioned as fluorescent probes due to the intrinsic fluorescent properties of the aminophthalimide core, which in some cases was significantly enhanced upon Aster-A binding. Most PROTACs maintained excellent binary affinity to Aster-A, and one compound, NGF3, showed promising Aster-A degradation in cells. The tools developed here lay the foundation for optimizing Aster-A fluorescent probes and degraders and studying its activity and function in vitro and in cells.PMID:38518734 | DOI:10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117673

Source: Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry - March 22, 2024 Category: Chemistry Authors: Nianzhe He Laura Depta Sonja Sievers Luca Laraia Source Type: research