The Mechanism of Selective Protein Degradation: An Analysis of Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras
Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are a revolutionary class of molecules that don't just "block" a harmful protein—they cause the body to completely destroy it. This technology utilizes the cell's natural waste-disposal system (the ubiquitin-proteasome system) to selectively eliminate proteins that cause disease.
A PROTAC molecule consists of two ends connected by a linker: one end binds to the target protein, and the other binds to an enzyme called an E3 ligase. By bringing these two together, the PROTAC "labels" the target protein for destruction. The cell then breaks down the protein into harmless components.

