Tipping the balance: Synthesis and evaluation of centrinone-based degraders of polo-like kinase 4

Polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) is a serine/threonine-protein kinase that plays a pivotal role in centriole biogenesis and, as such, represents a master regulator of centriole duplication. Due to its importance in cancer development and progression, PLK4 represents an attractive target for the development of novel therapeutics. Herein, we present a series of molecular degraders of PLK4, based on the highly selective PLK4 inhibitor centrinone, with the aim of targeting PLK4 for degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. While all synthesized degraders retained low nanomolar binding affinities to the kinase domain of PLK4, large differences were found with respect to their ability to change cellular PLK4 levels. We uncover a complex pharmacological profile of the most potent degraders, D6 and D10, consisting of concomitant lowering of PLK4 levels through degradation, and enhancing PLK4 levels through inhibition of its autoregulation - dependent on its localization at the centrioles.