(S,R,S)-AHPC-C5-COOH

Background Introduction

(S,R,S)-AHPC-C5-COOH is a heterobifunctional small molecule designed for use as a ligand-linker conjugate in the development of PROTACs (Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras). It features an E3 ligase ligand based on AHPC (an analog of VHL ligand) connected to a carboxyl-terminated C5 linker. This modular compound facilitates the construction of custom PROTACs aimed at targeted protein degradation, addressing the challenges associated with undruggable targets in disease treatment.

Mechanism

The mechanism of (S,R,S)-AHPC-C5-COOH centers around targeted protein degradation via the PROTAC strategy. As a ligand-linker conjugate, one end contains the AHPC moiety, which binds selectively to the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. The C5 linker with a terminal carboxyl group enables further functionalization or direct conjugation to ligands for proteins of interest. Upon assembling a PROTAC using (S,R,S)-AHPC-C5-COOH, the resulting bifunctional molecule recruits the target protein to the E3 ligase, promoting ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. This approach provides a powerful means to eliminate disease-causing proteins at the post-translational level.

Applications

(S,R,S)-AHPC-C5-COOH is widely employed in the synthesis of PROTAC molecules, particularly for recruiting the VHL E3 ligase. Its applications include: 1) Discovery and development of next-generation protein degraders for basic research and therapeutic pipelines; 2) Functional validation of protein targets via selective degradation in cell-based assays; 3) Chemical biology studies aiming to explore protein homeostasis, signaling pathways, or epigenetic regulation; and 4) Early-stage drug discovery targeting diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and autoimmune disorders. The carboxyl terminus ensures versatile conjugation chemistry, making it suitable for linking to diverse target-binding ligands and expanding the toolbox for custom PROTAC design.