p62 Phosphorylation Composition for Protein Aggregate Clearance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for neurodegenerative diseases associated with protein aggregate formation, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, are inadequate in effectively promoting the degradation of protein aggregates, which are a key factor in disease progression.

Innovation Solution

A composition containing a compound represented by General Formula (I) or its salt, which promotes the phosphorylation of serine at position 403 of p62/SQSTM1, enhancing aggrephagy and leading to the degradation of protein aggregates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current treatments are used for neurodegenerative diseases, then disease progression is managed, but protein aggregate degradation is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness of protein aggregate degradationVSAvoiddegradation efficiency of protein aggregates
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The compound changes the phosphorylation state of p62 at serine 403, transforming it from unphosphorylated to phosphorylated form. This parameter change (phosphorylation status) enhances p62's ability to bind polyubiquitin chains and promote aggrephagy, thereby improving both the reliability and productivity of protein aggregate degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The compound acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the phosphorylation of p62 by TBK1 kinase. This intermediary action enhances the interaction between p62 and polyubiquitin chains, improving the efficiency of aggregate recognition and degradation without directly interacting with the aggregates themselves

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If protein aggregate accumulation is suppressed, then neurodegenerative disease progression is slowed, but effective therapeutic agents are needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic efficacyVSAvoidavailability of effective therapeutic agents
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The compound enables the cell's own autophagy system to degrade protein aggregates more efficiently by enhancing p62 phosphorylation. This self-service mechanism allows the body's natural degradation pathways to be optimized, providing a reliable therapeutic approach that leverages endogenous systems rather than requiring external degradation machinery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The compound performs preliminary phosphorylation of p62 before aggregate degradation occurs, preparing the autophagy system in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when aggregates need to be degraded, the p62 protein is already in the optimal phosphorylated state to bind polyubiquitin chains and facilitate efficient aggrephagy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The compound effectively promotes the degradation of protein aggregates, providing a potential therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases by reducing aggregate accumulation and slowing disease progression.

Implementation Method 1

the serine residue at position 403 (S403) of the p62/SQSTM1 protein, which is the most commonly present among autophagy receptors, is phosphorylated, and thus binds to polyubiquitin chains with high affinity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhosphorylation:

Data Source

PatentEP4674416A1Protein aggregate decomposition promoting composition and pharmaceutical composition for prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases associated with protein aggregate formation
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 NAGASAKI UNIVERSITY
  • EP4674416A1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(B)
  • EP4674416A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4674416A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a composition for promoting the degradation of a protein aggregate, and a pharmaceutical composition for prevention or treatment of a neurodegenerative disease associated with protein aggregate formation. The above problem is solved by a compound represented by General Formula (I) described below.