Linker-free PROTACs efficiently induce the degradation of oncoproteins

Jianchao Zhang, Congli Chen, Xiao Chen, Kefan Liao, Fengming Li, Xiaoxiao Song, Chaowei Liu, Ming-Yuan Su, Huiyong Sun, Tingjun Hou, Chris Soon Heng Tan, Lijing Fang () and Hai Rao ()
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Jianchao Zhang: Southern University of Science and Technology
Congli Chen: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiao Chen: Southern University of Science and Technology
Kefan Liao: Southern University of Science and Technology
Fengming Li: Southern University of Science and Technology
Xiaoxiao Song: Southern University of Science and Technology
Chaowei Liu: Southern University of Science and Technology
Ming-Yuan Su: Southern University of Science and Technology
Huiyong Sun: China Pharmaceutical University
Tingjun Hou: Zhejiang University
Chris Soon Heng Tan: Southern University of Science and Technology
Lijing Fang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hai Rao: Southern University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) present a potentially effective strategy against various diseases via selective proteolysis. How to increase the efficacy of PROTACs remains challenging. Here, we explore the necessity of the linker, which has been deemed as an integral part of heterobifunctional PROTACs. Adopting single amino acid-based degradation signals, we find that the linker is not a required feature of the PROTACs. Notably, the linker-free PROTAC, Pro-BA, exhibits superior efficacy over its linker-bearing counterparts in degrading EML4-ALK and inhibiting lung cancer cell growth, as Pro-BA induces a stronger interaction between the target and the E3 ubiquitin ligase. Pro-BA is a water-soluble, orally administered degrader that significantly inhibits the tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. The broad applicability of this linker-free PROTAC strategy is further validated through the development of BCR-ABL degrader. Our study introduces a design paradigm for PROTACs, potentially facilitating the advancement of more efficient therapeutic degraders.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60107-7

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