This technology utilizes the CRL4-DCAF10 ubiquitin ligase complex to target and tag specific proteins for proteasomal degradation. By using chemical inhibitors and engineered PROTAC molecules, the system recruits target proteins to catalyze their destruction and control cellular protein levels. This mechanism provides a powerful platform for drug discovery to treat diseases driven by abnormal protein accumulation or function.
The Invention
This invention identifies novel CRL4-DCAF10 ubiquitin ligase complexes that interact with SAM domain proteins. By developing specific chemical inhibitors and PROTACs, the system harnesses this mechanism to trigger targeted protein degradation, offering a therapeutic approach for diseases like cancer that are driven by abnormal protein expression.
Market Opportunity
Modulating CRL4-DCAF10 ubiquitin ligase complexes holds significant commercial and clinical value for biotech and pharma. By enabling PROTAC development for previously "undruggable" proteins, this technology expands drug discovery pipelines for cancer and other unmet medical needs. Its applications also extend to stem cell regulation and male fertility, further broadening its therapeutic potential.
Applications
●Treatment of cancers through selective protein degradation facilitated by CRL4-DCAF10 ubiquitin ligase modulation.
●Development of novel PROTAC-based drugs targeting diverse disease-relevant proteins.
●Regulation of stem cell biology and therapeutic approaches to male fertility disorders.
Key Benefits
●Enables targeted degradation of previously undruggable proteins through PROTAC technology.
●Offers new therapeutic strategies for cancer and other human diseases via modulation of protein stability.
●Supports regulation of stem cell function and male fertility, expanding potential clinical applications.
Inventor: Hui Zhang
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Development and Intellectual Property Status
US Application 63/810,317, Filed 5/22/2026
PCT/US2026/29437, Filed 5/22/2026
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS
Available Technologies
