Chemical Inducers of Proximity
Natural Product-Based Drug Discovery
The Ng lab uses synthetic chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology to understand the dysregulated molecular pathways in human diseases, and to create novel therapeutic small-molecules to target these dysregulated pathways. We invent disruptive technologies and molecules to treat cancers, infectious and neurodegenerative diseases and collaborate closely with physicians and entrepreneurs to translate our finding from bench to bedside.
Chemical Inducers of Proximity
Post-translational modifications regulate protein activity, stability, localization and molecular interactions. Yet conventional approaches often perturb an entire PTM enzyme or pathway rather than a specific protein.
We are developing chemical approaches that bring PTM-regulating enzymes into proximity with selected proteins, enabling targeted manipulation of protein state and function.
Our long-term goal is to establish targeted PTM editing as a general chemical-biology strategy for studying—and ultimately controlling—proteins that are difficult to address with conventional pharmacology.
[1] “Proximity-Induced Protein Deglycosylation by Endogenous O-GlcNAcase.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2026).
[2] “Chemically Induced Proximity for Targeted Protein O-GlcNAcylation.” Accounts of Chemical Research (2026).
[3] “Rewiring c-Myc Transcriptional Activity with an O-GlcNAcylation Targeting Chimera (OGTAC).” Cell Chemical Biology (2026).
[4] “Ligand-Directed Self-Assembling Chimeras for Targeted Protein O-GlcNAcylation.” ACS Chemical Biology (2025).
[5] “Targeted O-GlcNAcylation of CK2α Triggers Its Ubiquitin-Proteasome Degradation and Alters Downstream Phosphorylation.” ACS Chemical Biology (2025)
Natural Product-Based Drug Discovery
Molecular Editing & Translational Drug Discovery
Creating new pharmacology by rewriting natural molecular scaffolds
We use synthetic molecular editing to transform bioactive natural products into new chemical matter with altered biological function and therapeutic potential. Current work includes bilobalide-derived molecules for ferroptosis and neuroinflammatory biology.
[1] “Molecular Editing of Bilobalide: Expanding Chemical Space and Biological Opportunities” ACS Bio & Med Chem Au (2026).
[2] “Molecular Editing Reveals a Bilobalide Chemotype that Attenuates Prolyl Endopeptidase (PREP)-Linked Neuroinflammation.” Advanced Science (2026).
[3] “Molecular Editing of Bilobalide: Regioselective C-Ring Lactam Formation.” Organic Letters (2026).
[4] “Lactone-to-Lactam Editing Alters the Pharmacology of Bilobalide.” JACS Au (2024).