VHL-independent degradation of hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg) by VHL-binding chimeric small molecules.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a leading cause of liver cancer worldwide, with current treatment options unable to provide lasting efficacy against chronic infection. A key viral protein, HBV e antigen (HBeAg), plays an important role in suppressing the cellular and humoral immune response during infection and its loss is a precursor to clearance of chronic HBV infection. Its structural similarity to capsid forming HBV core protein antigen (HBcAg) makes it an intriguing, yet understudied target for pharmaceutical intervention. Recently, targeted protein degradation has been successfully applied against several viral proteins. This work investigates the targeting of HBeAg using heterobifunctional degraders derived from reported HBcAg ligands known to interact with HBeAg. Multiple compounds desi

SUBMITTER: Hales LT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12017376 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature