FAK-targeting PROTAC as a chemical tool for the investigation of non-enzymatic FAK function in mice
Hongying Gao, Chunwei Zheng, Jianbin Du, Yue Wu, Yonghui Sun, Chunsheng Han, Kehkooi Kee, Yu Rao
Abstract
FAK-targeting PROTAC as a chemical tool for the investigation of non-enzymatic FAK function in mice Dear Editor, Animal models, most commonly mice, that lack a protein of interest play an important role in phenotypic and functional studies of a target gene, allowing researchers to answer various biological questions At present, a variety of tools act at the DNA or RNA level to enable researchers to model gene function (and thus protein) deficiency, including nucleic acid-based RNA interference However, challenges remain. RNA and DNA-based technologies lack exquisite temporal control of the target gene at specified time points in an organism's development, and they fail to realize acute and reversible target gene function These shortcomings have garnered widespread concern in both fundamental research and drug development. Furthermore, gene knockout will often lead to embryonic lethality, precluding the study of post-embryonic pathophysiological functions of target genes and proteins of interest