Pomalidomide-PEG1-azide

Background Introduction

Pomalidomide-PEG1-azide is a versatile E3 ligase ligand-linker conjugate designed for targeted protein degradation strategies such as PROTAC (Proteolysis Targeting Chimera) and molecular glue approaches. Combining pomalidomide—a thalidomide derivative recognized for its high affinity binding to the cereblon (CRBN) E3 ubiquitin ligase—with a hydrophilic PEG1 linker and a terminal azide group, this product is ideal for innovation in chemical biology and drug discovery.

Mechanism

Pomalidomide-PEG1-azide functions as an optimized bifunctional tool for constructing advanced PROTACs. The pomalidomide moiety specifically binds to the CRBN E3 ubiquitin ligase, a critical component of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. The PEG1 linker confers flexibility and solubility, while the azide terminal enables straightforward conjugation to various target protein ligands via click chemistry. Once conjugated, the resulting chimera recruits the target protein to the E3 ligase complex, inducing ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of the target protein within cells.

Applications

Pomalidomide-PEG1-azide is widely used in the design and synthesis of PROTACs for chemical biology research, target validation, and early-stage drug discovery. Its modular structure facilitates the development of custom protein degraders to investigate disease-relevant targets, explore cellular protein homeostasis, and accelerate the development of next-generation therapeutics for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and immunological disorders. The azide functionality allows for rapid and efficient coupling with alkyne-containing molecules via click chemistry, enabling high-throughput assembly of PROTAC libraries and novel bifunctional degraders.