A dynamic molecular glue targets a plastic MDA5 filament interface to stimulate innate immunity

Authors

Hur, S., Yan, L., Ye, Z., Li, Z., Pokharel, S., Hsu, T. Y.-T., Torres-Arancivia, C., Haratani, K., Ivanova, E., Paweletz, C., Cherry, S., Barbie, D.

Abstract

Innate immune signaling is a double-edged sword: uncontrolled activation drives autoinflammatory diseases, while controlled activation enhances antiviral and antitumor immunity. MDA5, a cytosolic dsRNA sensor that activates type I interferon signaling, mediates both immunopathology and protective immunity, yet small-molecule modulators have remained elusive. Here we report MA2, a first-in-class selective MDA5 agonist that acts as a molecular glue. MA2 binds a cryptic inter-protomer pocket within MDA5 filaments that undergoes ATPase-associated conformational remodeling. Rather than rigidly locking the interface, MA2 remains bound while accommodating and reshaping these structural transitions, strengthening MDA5-dsRNA and inter-protomer interactions and attenuating ATP hydrolysis. MA2 does not induce new filament assembly but potentiates pre-existing filaments, enabling context-dependent activation in dsRNA-enriched cells. MA2 enhances antiviral activity and synergizes with chemotherapeutic agents and natural killer cells to promote tumor cell killing. These findings establish dynamic molecular glues as a strategy for targeting conformationally plastic interfaces previously considered undruggable.

Preprint server: bioRxiv
The authors list and abstract were imported from bioRxiv on 21 Oct 2026.

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