Targeted protein degradation therapeutics offer new hope for those suffering from cancer. Researchers have focused on cereblon, a protein that helps cells maintain a stable internal environment, deciding which other proteins are to be degraded and recycled. So far, this work has centered on the “orthosteric,” or primary site, where cancer therapeutics bind to cereblon. However, under the guidance of Christina Woo, professor of chemistry and chemical biology, graduating PhD student Vanessa Dippon and her team have found a new “allosteric” site, enabling cereblon to better degrade cancer-causing proteins while sparing healthy cells. The discovery of this “hidden control dial” has the potential to improve the ability of therapies for blood, ovarian, breast, and other cancers, opening the door to treatments that are both more selective and more powerful.
