Publications
bioRxivOct 2025 DOI:
10.1101/2025.10.11.681520

Deep mutational scanning reveals pharmacologically relevant insights into TYK2 signaling and disease

Howard, Conor J; Abell, Nathan S.; Warneford-Thomson, Robert; Mahdavi, Eden; Su, Alan L; Resnick, Carmen; Mohammed, Nabil; Thompson, Erin M.; Holzinger, Emily; Catalano, Katrina A.; Hukku, Abhay; Mintier, Gabriel A.; Wilson, Stephen C.; Maranville, Joseph; Sheth, Payal R.; Plenge, Robert M.; Kosuri, Sriram; Dickel, Diane E.
Product Used
Variant Libraries
Abstract
Abstract Tyrosine Kinase 2 (TYK2) is a genetically defined target for autoimmune disease, with first-generation inhibitors showing clinical success in some but not all associated indications. A deeper understanding of TYK2 structure-function, protein-ligand interactions, and the impact of human variants could inform next-generation therapeutics. Here, we applied Deep Mutational Scanning (DMS) to assess >23,000 amino acid substitutions across two TYK2 functions: IFN-α signaling and protein abundance. This enabled high-resolution structure-function mapping and the identification of novel allosteric sites. By coupling DMS with inhibitor treatment, we uncovered variants that modulate compound potency. We also show that human variants - both common and rare - that are protective against autoimmune phenotypes reduce TYK2 protein abundance. Together, these findings demonstrate that DMS can prospectively reveal novel druggable sites, clarify structure-activity relationships (SAR), and highlight TYK2 degradation as a potential therapeutic strategy in autoimmunity.
Product Used
Variant Libraries

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