---
title: "PROTAC anatomy Template – Chemistry Diagram | MolDraw"
url: https://www.moldraw.com/templates/pharma-protac-anatomy/
description: "PROTAC anatomy template: The three parts of a PROTAC (bifunctional degrader) — a target (POI) ligand, a linker and an E3-ligase ligand — labelled, with a…"
lang: en
publisher: Scidart Academy
generated: 2026-11-13
---
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# PROTAC anatomy template

![PROTAC anatomy template: The three parts of a PROTAC (bifunctional degrader) — a target (POI) ligand, a linker and an E3-ligase ligand — labelled, with a schematic of the ternary complex that brings the target and the E3 ligase together for ubiquitination and degradation.](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/pharma-protac-anatomy.webp)

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The three parts of a PROTAC (bifunctional degrader) — a target (POI) ligand, a linker and an E3-ligase ligand — labelled, with a schematic of the ternary complex that brings the target and the E3 ligase together for ubiquitination and degradation.

## What the template shows

- A bifunctional degrader: target ligand – linker – E3-ligase ligand, and the ternary complex it forms
- Three parts
- Target (POI) ligand
- E3-ligase ligand
- e.g. a PEG / alkyl linker
- Ternary complex → degradation
- Target protein (POI)
- The two ligands hold the target and the E3 ligase together (the ternary complex); the E3 then tags the target with ubiquitin, marking it for proteasomal degradation. The PROTAC is released and acts again (catalytic, event-driven).
- A PROTAC (proteolysis-targeting chimera) is a bifunctional molecule: one end binds the target protein, the other binds an E3 ubiquitin ligase, joined by a linker.
- It works by induced proximity, not by blocking an active site, so it can degrade “undruggable” targets and acts sub-stoichiometrically (catalytically).
- Linker length, attachment points and the E3 ligand (commonly CRBN- or VHL-recruiting) strongly affect ternary-complex formation and degradation.
- This is a schematic of the parts and the mechanism — not a specific molecule.
- Békés, Langley & Crews, Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 2022, 21, 181 · every part of this sheet is editable

Drawn with 11 atoms, 13 shapes – every one editable in MolDraw.

## Sources

- [Békés, Langley & Crews, Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 2022, 21, 181](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41573-021-00371-6) Review

## How to use this template

1. Press **Edit in MolDraw**. The template opens on the canvas of the free MolDraw editor.
2. Change anything: move structures, edit atoms and labels, recolour highlights or delete what you do not need.
3. Add your own structures, arrows and text next to it, or combine several templates on one page.
4. Export the drawing as PNG, SVG or PDF for slides, worksheets, theses and papers.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is the PROTAC anatomy template free?

You can preview the PROTAC anatomy template here and open and edit it in MolDraw for free. Downloading or exporting it is part of MolDraw Pro, together with the other premium templates.

### Can I edit the PROTAC anatomy template?

Yes. It opens as an ordinary MolDraw drawing, so every structure, arrow, label and colour can be changed, and you can add your own content around it.

### Is the chemistry checked?

Every structure is checked with RDKit and every curly arrow passes MolDraw’s electron-flow audit. The sources used are listed on this page.

### Are the IC₅₀ values in the SAR table real?

No. They are illustrative example values so the table can be filled in with your own data; the structures and R-group positions are checked with RDKit.

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