Abstract:
Pesticides play a significant role in controlling diseases, insect pests, and weeds, ensuring stable crop yields and increased agricultural production. Novel green pesticides are crucial for guaranteeing food production security. However, with the increasingly severe problem of resistance evolution, the limitations of traditional small-molecule inhibitors have becoming increasingly apparent. Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) is an emerging targeted protein degradation technology that utilizes the ubiquitin-proteasome system within organisms to induce the ubiquitination and degradation of target proteins. This offers a strategy distinct from traditional mechanisms of action for developing novel pesticides, holding significant importance for enhancing the efficacy and sustainability of agricultural pest control. This paper explores the potential application of PROTAC technology in agrochemicals, particularly in the research and development of new pesticides targeting "undruggable" proteins. It systematically introduces the immense potential of PROTAC technology in overcoming pesticide resistance issues and expanding the target range for pesticides. Furthermore, it reviews currently available ligand binders for targets in agricultural weeds, pathogens, and insect pests where severe resistance has not yet emerged. It also covers key regulatory targets and E3 ubiquitin ligases. This review aims to provide a reference for the future design and development of agrochemicals based on PROTAC technology.