Targeted Protein Degradation Center

The Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) Center was founded in 2007. Its mission is to apply advanced chemical methods to discover and develop chemical tools designed to map and interrogate biological and pathological pathways. To this end, TPD is staffed by multidisciplinary experts in organic and medicinal chemistry, biochemical and cellular assay development, protein purification, and structural biology. TPD collaborates with multiple scientists across the institution to provide access to chemical probe discovery (hit finding, lead optimization, and in vivo compound selection). TPD supports investigators within CBT and across St. Jude by developing chemical tools to map disease pathways. The TPD toolbox includes PROTACs, molecular glues, pull-downs, photoaffinity, and imaging probes. The team has experience developing and utilizing biochemical assays, including FP, TR-FRET, AlphaScreen, and cell-based assays to test the compounds developed.