'Molecular glues' and 'bumpers' offer new hope for precision medicines New research led by the University of Minnesota Medical School demonstrates that molecules acting as "molecular bumpers" and "molecular glues" can rewire G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, turning the cell's busiest receptors into precision tools—opening the door to a new generation of safer, smarter medicines.

Newly designed molecules acting as "molecular glues" and "bumpers" can selectively rewire GPCR signaling, offering a pathway to more precise and potentially safer medicines. doi.org/g98xfp

Systematic analysis of the RGS2 degron reveals characteristics of substrate recognition by the F-box protein FBXO44 Regulator of G protein Signaling 2 (RGS2) negatively modulates signaling downstream of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) by accelerating GTP hydrolysis at Gα subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins. D...

So excited to finally have this out! Last paper of Sjogren Lab grad Harrison McNabb, check! www.jbc.org/article/S002...

One of my favorite places!!!

Discovery of RGS2-FBXO44 interaction inhibitors using a cell-based NanoBit assay Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins negatively regulate signaling through G protein-coupled receptors, and reduced RGS protein function i…

Link to original paper here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

A new angle on RGS protein modulation In most drug discovery efforts targeting regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins, inhibiting their activity is the end-goal. A recent article …

Check out the Spotlight on our paper in TiPS! Thanks for the shout out! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Soooo true! Have tried to get several projects funded for years! Being in the top 5-10% of reviewed grants is not even enough…

Young, Pottinger Op-Ed: Funding for R&D Isn’t a Gift to Academia. It's Vital to U.S. Security. - Senator Young The following column by Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Matthew Pottinger, Former Deputy National Security Advisor of the United States, was published in The Washington Post on March 24, 2025. By Sena...

Important message. Also important to remember that federal funding for science isn’t “given” to university laboratories - it is awarded based on highly competitive process, profs spend months/years on proposals that are reviewed by experts, most are rejected.

www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...

ByeTAC: Bypassing E-Ligase-Targeting Chimeras for Direct Proteasome Degradation The development of targeted protein degradation by recruiting a protein of interest to a ubiquitin ligase to facilitate its degradation has become a powerful therapeutic tool. The potential of this approach is limited to proteins that can be readily ubiquitinated and relies on having a ligand with the various E3 ligases. Here, we describe a new methodology for targeted protein degradation that directly recruits a protein of interest to the proteasome for degradation. We generated bifunctional molecules that incorporate a small molecule ligand into a subunit on the 26S proteasome that recruits the protein directly for degradation. ByeTAC degradation requires binding to Rpn-13, a nonessential ubiquitin receptor of the 26S proteasome, and the protein of interest and does not have to rely on the E ligase cascade for ubiquitination. The ByeTAC methodology demonstrates the application of directly recruiting a protein to the proteasome via interactions with Rpn-13 for degradation.

ByeTACs is finally out in J. Med Chem. Congrats team! Can't wait to see how else we can use this degradation technology. @codyloy.bsky.social

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Discovery of RGS2-FBXO44 interaction inhibitors using a cell-based NanoBit assay Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins negatively regulate signaling through G protein-coupled receptors, and reduced RGS protein function i…

So happy to finally see this out! Check out our paper on identification of a small molecule inhibitor of RGS2 protein degradation! Thanks to all the authors for your hard work! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

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(image by @donkoclock.bsky.social) 🙏

UC Irvine assistant professor Lauren Albrecht named 2025 Sloan Foundation Research Fellow Accomplished early-career pharmaceutical scientist recognized as next-generation leader

Congrats to my colleague, Prof. Albrecht @albrechtlab.bsky.social , who is a new Sloan Fellow! news.uci.edu/2025/02/20/u...

Protect NIH Research: Advocate for Full Funding As researchers representing universities across the country, the last few weeks have been filled with uncertainty. As you are aware, the Trump administration’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) prop...

The Univ of California Office of the President sent this petition out today for any researchers, anywhere in the country to sign.

Please take just 1 min to sign it and distribute to other researchers before the hearing on Friday regarding indirects.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

G Protein Regulation by RGS Proteins in the Pathophysiology of Dilated Cardiomyopathy | American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins finetune signaling via heterotrimeric G proteins to maintain physiologic homeostasis in various organ systems of the human body including the brain, ki...

Check out our new review paper on the role of RGS proteins in dilated cardiomyopathy! Great work by grad student Yadhira Garcia! journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1...

The Sjogren Lab at UC Irvine has officially joined @bsky.app ! Looking forward to fruitful interactions!