# Nano-machines for targeted protein degradation - 季哲剑教授课题组

The AAA-family ATPases are a group of protein machines that have a combination of high specificity and great processivity. They have a huge potential in development of nano-machines for targeted protein degradation. Currently, the prevalent approach for targeted protein degradation employs the proteolysis-targeting chimera technology (PROTAC). This method hijacks the endogenous ubiquitination machinery and requires the endogenous proteasomes to clear the target proteins. In cases when the cellular ubiquitin-proteasome system is compromised, for instance, in aging cells or neurodegenerative cells, PROTAC may not be effective. Our lab aims to develop an ALPINE system (ATPase-linked protease induced elimination of targets), which would not require ubiquitination or the proteasome. This novel method, once established, would revolutionize the targeted protein degradation technology.