9NCT

Crystal Structure of WDR5 in complex with Triazole-Based Inhibitors

This is a non-PDB format compatible entry.

Summary for 9NCT

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb9nct/pdb
• Descriptor: WD repeat-containing protein 5, 4-({6-cyclopropyl-8-[(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]-4,5-dihydro-3H-naphtho[1,2-d][1,2,3]triazol-3-yl}methyl)-2-methoxybenzonitrile (3 entities in total)
• Functional Keywords: wdr5, inhibitor, structural protein, structural protein-inhibitor complex, structural protein/inhibitor
• Biological source: Homo sapiens (human)
• Total number of polymer chains: 2
• Total formula weight: 95049.23

Authors

Goins, C.M.,Stauffer, S.R. (deposition date: 2025-02-17, release date: 2025-08-13, Last modification date: 2026-05-20)

Primary citation

Coker, J.A.,Martinez, S.R.,Han, S.H.,Sloan, A.R.,Gupta, A.K.,Bukenya, G.,Polzer, P.,Ramos, J.H.,Rico, E.G.,Rico, A.,Lindsey, A.A.,Navadgi, T.,Reitz, N.,Romigh, T.,Macdonald, J.,Sonawane, D.,Goins, C.M.,Hubert, C.G.,Wang, N.S.,Cheng, F.,Alvarado, J.,Sprowls, S.A.,Lathia, J.D.,Stauffer, S.R.
Development and characterization of triazole-based WDR5 inhibitors for the treatment of glioblastoma.
JCI Insight, 2026

PubMed Abstract: Glioblastoma (GBM) cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to tumor recurrence, treatment resistance, and dismal clinical outcomes. Genetic and pharmacological evidence suggests that the nuclear scaffolding protein WD-repeat containing protein 5 (WDR5) is a therapeutic vulnerability of the CSC population. However, previously reported WDR5 inhibitors display low permeability and are unable to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), limiting their utility in GBM. Herein, we report the structure-guided development of a novel series of triazole-based WDR5 WIN-site inhibitors designed to increase passive brain penetration. We identified triazole-based WDR5 inhibitors that are potent, passively permeable, and in some cases more brain penetrant than other scaffolds. We phenotypically assessed our novel WDR5 inhibitors in a panel of patient-derived CSC models and uncovered unique WDR5-regulated metabolic genes in GBM. We also evaluated their antiproliferative activity against CSCs both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, to identify novel combination opportunities, we screened a 2,100-compound chemical probe library and identified that the ATAD2 inhibitor BAY-850 synergizes with WDR5 inhibitors to enhance CSC killing. Our work diversifies the chemical matter targeting WDR5, clarifies the in vitro consequences of WIN-site inhibition in CSCs, and encourages the future development of next-generation WDR5 inhibitors with the potential to achieve in vivo efficacy in the brain.

PubMed: 42084925
DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.198298

Experimental method

X-RAY DIFFRACTION (2.11 Å)