Allosteric covalent inhibition of cereblon through cryptic cysteine targeting

Abstract

Thalidomide-derived cereblon (CRBN) modulators are among the most clinically impactful targeted protein degradation therapeutics, redirecting the CRL4-CRBN E3 ubiquitin ligase to degrade disease-driving neosubstrates. All current CRBN-targeting IMiDs and CELMoDs engage a single orthosteric pocket, leaving CRBN's conformational landscape largely unexploited pharmacologically. Using cysteine-directed chemoproteomic screening, we identified covalent ligands that engage Cys287, a cryptic allosteric pocket distal to the orthosteric site. Our lead compound, VVD-105917, acts as a pan-inhibitor of IMiD/CELMoD-driven neosubstrate degradation. Cryo-EM structures reveal that covalent Cys287 engagement traps CRBN in its open, inactive conformation, resolving a previously unobserved N-terminal segment and sensor loop. Sequential incubation experiments show the conformational outcome depends on ligand addition order, demonstrating that even potent CELMoD-driven closure can be overridden by allosteric engagement. A recently reported ligand at this same pocket produces the opposite effect, promoting rather than blocking closure, indicating the Cys287 site is mechanistically sign-switchable. These findings establish covalent chemoproteomics as a strategy for discovering and controlling E3 ligase conformational switches.