The cell membrane is notoriously selective about what it lets in. Charged molecules? Mostly rejected at the door. That’s a problem, because some of the most promising drug targets sit behind that barrier, and reaching them requires chemistry the membrane won’t tolerate.
Continue reading “Charged Molecular Glues: The Molecular Trojan Horse That Slipped Past Biology’s Toughest Bouncer “Earlier this fall, more than 90 researchers from academia and industry gathered at the Promega Madison campus for the 4th TPD & Induced Proximity Symposium. The event focused on the rapidly advancing field of targeted protein degradation (TPD) and the broader concept of induced proximity—therapeutic strategies that bring two or more proteins into proximity to trigger a specific biological effect.
This 4th year reflected of the symposium a maturing and diversifying field with chemoproteomics and proteomescale mapping redefining what it means to be “druggable,” while AI and high throughput biology are connecting molecular design to cellular function. Yet the mission remains unchanged—using molecular approaches that leverage the cellular machinery to make progress against targets once deemed “undruggable.”
Continue reading “Targeted Protein Degradation: How Chemoproteomics and Induced Proximity Are Shaping Drug Discovery”In targeted protein degradation (TPD), timing is everything. Understanding not just whether a degrader works—but how fast, how thoroughly and how sustainably—can dramatically influence early discovery decisions. Dr. Kristin Riching (Promega) dove into the real-time world of degradation kinetics in the webinar: Degradation in Motion: How Live-Cell Kinetics Drive Degrader Optimization, sharing how dynamic data provides a clearer view of degrader performance than traditional endpoint assays.
Whether you’re exploring your first PROTAC or optimizing a molecular glue series, the expertise offered in Dr. Riching’s presentation gives you actionable insights that will help you connect kinetic data to better therapeutic design.
