SGC in collaboration with Dr Mark Lautens’ at the University of Toronto’s Department of Chemistry has developed the first chemical probe SGC-UBD1031 for the ubiquitin binding domain (UBD) of USP16. SGC-UBD1031 has equipotent affinity to HDAC6 UBD and it is recommended to be used in parallel with SGC-UBD253.

SGC-UBD1031 binds potently to USP16 UBD with K_D = 48 nM (SPR), and in cells it inhibits the USP16-ISG15 interaction with EC₅₀ = 1.7 micromolar (nanoBRET). 

SGC-UBD1031N is a closely related negative control with no activity in the nanoBRET assay up to 30 micromolar.