The serine/threonine kinase AKT functions as a critical node of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (m-TOR) signaling pathway. Aberrant activation and overexpression of AKT are strongly correlated with numerous human cancers. To date, only two AKT degraders with no structure–activity relationship (SAR) results have been reported. Through extensive SAR studies on various linkers, E3 ligase ligands, and AKT binding moieties, we identified two novel and potent AKT proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) degraders: von Hippel–Lindau (VHL)-recruiting degrader 13 (MS98) and cereblon (CRBN)-recruiting degrader 25 (MS170). These two compounds selectively induced robust AKT protein degradation, inhibited downstream signaling, and suppressed cancer cell proliferation. Moreover, these two degraders exhibited good plasma exposure levels in mice through intraperitoneal injection. Overall, our comprehensive SAR studies led to the discovery of degraders 13 and 25, which are potentially useful chemical tools to investigate biological and pathogenic functions of AKT in vitro and in vivo.

中文翻译：

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有效、选择性和生物可利用的 AKT 激酶降解剂的设计、合成和评估

丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶 AKT 作为磷脂酰肌醇 3 激酶 (PI3K)/AKT/哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶标 (m-TOR) 信号通路的关键节​​点发挥作用。AKT 的异常激活和过度表达与许多人类癌症密切相关。迄今为止，仅报道了两种没有构效关系 (SAR) 结果的 AKT 降解剂。通过对各种接头、E3 连接酶配体和 AKT 结合部分的广泛 SAR 研究，我们确定了两种新型且有效的 AKT 蛋白水解靶向嵌合体 (PROTAC) 降解剂：von Hippel–Lindau (VHL)-recruiting degrader 13 (MS98) 和 cereblon (CRBN) )-招募降级者25（MS170）。这两种化合物选择性地诱导强烈的 AKT 蛋白降解，抑制下游信号传导，并抑制癌细胞增殖。此外，这两种降解剂通过腹膜内注射在小鼠体内表现出良好的血浆暴露水平。总的来说，我们全面的 SAR 研究导致了降解剂13和25的发现，它们是在体外和体内研究 AKT 的生物学和致病功能的潜在有用的化学工具。