Work

The conformational–condensate code of GRB2: State switching, spatial organization, and therapeutic windows

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2) is a core adaptor protein that coordinates signals from receptor tyrosine kinases, immune receptors, and metabolic pathways, triggering context-specificcellular responses linked to both normal physiology and disease. While GRB2 has long been defined by its classic interactions-specifically, the binding of its SH2 domain to phosphotyrosine residues and its SH3 domains to proline-rich motifs-emerging research has increasingly revealed it to be a dynamic signaling hub, whose function is governed by conformational switching, inter-domain allostery, and the assembly of biomolecular condensates. Through a combination of structural and biochemical studies, we have come to understand that the equilibria between GRB2 monomers and dimers, domain swapping events, and post-translational modifications work in concert to fine-tune the specificity of its signaling, creating a direct mechanistic link between GRB2 and the development of oncogenesis, immune dysregulation, and insulin resistance. Beyond its well-characterized role in the cytoplasm, GRB2 also localizes to key subcellular compartments including endosomes, lipid rafts, and the nucleus, where it plays a critical role in mediating DNA damage responses. The diversity of GRB2 isoforms, most notably the splice variant Grb3-3, further reshapes cellular signaling networks by modulating the availability of SOS (Son of Sevenless), with far-reaching implications for the pathogenesis of cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. We propose the "conformational-condensate code" to unify GRB2 regulatory logic: its intrinsic conformational shifts and subcellular condensate assembly jointly determine signaling thresholds under healthy and diseased conditions. From a therapeutic perspective, GRB2 has emerged as a versatile and promising target, with strategies ranging from the inhibition of its SH2 and SH3 domains to allosteric modulation, condensate-directed pharmacology, and the restoration of isoform balance. Notably, antisense oligonucleotides such as prexigebersen (BP1001) have advanced to clinical trials, demonstrating favorable safety profiles and early signs of anti-leukemic activity, while BP1001-A is currently being developed for the treatment of obesity-associated type 2 diabetes-findings that underscore the broad translational potential of targeting GRB2 across a spectrum of diseases.

Source: Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B

DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2026.08.001