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Research advances in targeted protein degradation technologies

Published on Apr. 30, 2026Total Views: 20 timesTotal Downloads: 2 timesDownloadMobile

Author: PI Chuan 1, 2 HAO Xuanrun 1, 2 XIAO Haiting 1, 2 LUO Xing 1 ZHANG Qixiong 3, 4

Affiliation: 1. Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital East Sichuan Branch, Dazhou First People's Hospital, Dazhou 635000, Sichuan Province, China 2. Department of Pharmacy, Dazhou Women and Children's Hospital, Dazhou 635000, Sichuan Province, China 3. Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610000, China 4. School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610000, China

Keywords: Targeted protein degradation Proteolysis targeting chimera Molecular glue Lysosome-targeting chimera Autophagy-targeting chimera Autophagosome-tethering compound

DOI: 10.12173/j.issn.1004-5511.202506039

Reference: Pi C, Hao XR, Xiao HT, et al. Research advances in targeted protein degradation technologies​[J]. Yixue Xinzhi Zazhi, 2026, 36(4): 464-470. DOI: 10.12173/j.issn.1004-5511.202506039. [Article in Chinese]

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Abstract

Targeted protein degradation (TPD) technologies leverage the body’s innate protein degradation systems to selectively eliminate protein of interest (POI). This technology overcomes the limitations of the traditional “site-occupancy” approach (whereby a drug directly binds to the active site of the protein of POI to inhibit its function), instead adopting an “event-driven” approach (whereby the drug indirectly eliminates the POI by triggering specific biological events such as ubiquitination or lysosomal degradation) to catalyze the degradation of the POI rather than inhibiting its function. TPD technology offers significant advantages, including the ability to target “undruggable” proteins, rapid action, high selectivity and the ability to overcome drug resistance, and has become a leading frontier in the field of drug discovery in recent years. Currently, the main TPD technological pathways include degradation pathways based on the ubiquitin-proteasome system, the endosomes-lysosomal degradation system, and the autophagy pathway. This paper aims to provide a reference for future research by reviewing the latest developments in TPD  technology.

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References

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