Pac-Man for biotechnology: co-opting degrons for targeted protein degradation to control and alter cell function. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Geng; Rosenberg, Julian N; Betenbaugh, Michael J; Oyler, George A
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in biotechnology. Volume 36(2015)
• Page Start: 199
• Page End: 204
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Biotechnology -- Periodicals; 660.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.08.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-1669

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Extended degron and two major protein degradation mechanisms have been introduced. Most recent strategies used for targeted protein degradation have been reviewed. Pioneering applications of the targeted protein degradation was exemplified. Abstract : Protein degradation in normal living cells is precisely regulated to match the cells' physiological requirements. The selectivity of protein degradation is determined by an elaborate degron-tagging system. Degron refers to an amino acid sequence that encodes a protein degradation signal, which is oftentimes a poly-ubiquitin chain that can be transferred to other proteins. Current understanding of ubiquitination dependent and independent protein degradation processes has expanded the application of degrons for targeted protein degradation and novel cell engineering strategies. Recent findings suggest that small molecules inducing protein association can be exploited to create degrons that target proteins for degradation. Here, recent applications of degron-based targeted protein degradation in eukaryotic organisms are reviewed. The degron mediated protein degradation represents a rapidly tunable methodology to control protein abundance, which has broad application in therapeutics and cellular function control and monitoring.