SNIPERs

Specific and Non-genetic inhibitor of apoptosis protein [IAP]-dependent Protein Erasers (SNIPER), a class of small-molecule degraders, is designed to induce IAP-mediated ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation of target proteins.

SNIPERs recruit IAP family of RING-type E3 ligases-cIAP1, cIAP2, and XIAP. The SNIPER chemical structure consists of selective IAP antagonist (i.e., Bestatin, MV1, and LCL161), PEG linker and peptide- or small-molecule-based protein of interest (POI)-specific component. Unlike the chimeric molecules that recruit von Hippel-Lindau and cereblon ubiquitin ligases, SNIPERs induce simultaneous degradation of IAPs such as cIAP1 and XIAP along with the target proteins.