Direct targeting of TDP-43, from small molecules to biologics: the therapeutic landscape

L Francois-Moutal, DD Scott, M Khanna - RSC Chemical Biology, 2021 - pubs.rsc.org
RSC Chemical Biology, 2021pubs.rsc.org
Tar DNA binding (TDP)-43 proteinopathy, typically described as cytoplasmic accumulation
of highly modified and misfolded TDP-43 molecules, is characteristic of several
neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and limbic-
predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE). TDP-43 proposed
proteinopathies include homeostatic imbalance between nuclear and cytoplasmic
localization, aggregation of ubiquitinated and hyper-phosphorylated TDP-43, and an …
Tar DNA binding (TDP)-43 proteinopathy, typically described as cytoplasmic accumulation of highly modified and misfolded TDP-43 molecules, is characteristic of several neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE). TDP-43 proposed proteinopathies include homeostatic imbalance between nuclear and cytoplasmic localization, aggregation of ubiquitinated and hyper-phosphorylated TDP-43, and an increase in protein truncation of cytoplasmic TDP-43. Given the therapeutic interest of targeting TDP-43, this review focuses on the current landscape of strategies, ranging from biologics to small molecules, that directly target TDP-43. Antibodies, peptides and compounds have been designed or found to recognize specific TDP-43 sequences but alleviate TDP-43 toxicity through different mechanisms. While two antibodies described here were able to induce degradation of pathological TDP-43, the peptides and small molecules were primarily designed to reduce aggregation of TDP-43. Furthermore, we discuss promising emerging therapeutic targets.
The Royal Society of Chemistry