HomeAboutRankingsData Sources
© 2026 GeneE
🧬
GeneE
10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
ⓘGeneE is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
WDR20
WD repeat domain 20
Chromosome 14 · 14q32.31
NCBI Gene: 91833Ensembl: ENSG00000140153.18HGNC: HGNC:19667UniProt: A0A088AWN2
71PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Highly Constrained
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingdeubiquitinase activator activitypositive regulation of canonical Wnt signaling pathwaynucleusneurodegenerative diseasegoutalcohol drinkingcrush injury
✦AI Summary

WDR20 (WD repeat domain 20) is a regulatory cofactor that activates deubiquitinating enzyme complexes, primarily functioning as a catalytic modulator of USP12 and USP46 deubiquitinases 12. Structurally, WDR20 anchors at the base of the ubiquitin-contacting loop of USP12 and remotely modulates its catalytic center 2. WDR20 regulates subcellular shuttling of the USP12/UAF1/WDR20 complex between the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus via CRM1-dependent nuclear export pathways 3. Mechanistically, WDR20-containing complexes control protein stability through selective deubiquitination. The USP12/46-WDR20 complex stabilizes β1 integrin by removing ubiquitin chains in early endosomes, preventing ESCRT-mediated lysosomal degradation 4. Similarly, the USP46-WDR20 complex promotes Wnt/β-catenin signaling by deubiquitinating the LRP6 coreceptor 5. In hepatocellular carcinoma, WDR20 orchestrates USP12/46-mediated deubiquitination of c-Myc, promoting HCC cell proliferation and preventing senescence 6. Clinical significance includes prostate cancer progression, where elevated WDR20 expression supports androgen receptor stability and activity 7. WDR20 also regulates ERAD substrate degradation through interactions with p97 and E3 ligases 8. Recent evidence links WDR20 to epilepsy pathogenesis through USP46-mediated AMPA receptor deubiquitination 9. WDR20 represents a therapeutic target across multiple cancer types and neurological conditions.

Sources cited
1
WDR20 activates deubiquitinating activity of USP12-containing complexes
PMID: 20147737
2
WDR20 anchors at USP12 catalytic loop and remotely modulates enzymatic activity
PMID: 27373336
3
WDR20 regulates shuttling of USP12/UAF1/WDR20 complex between plasma membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus via CRM1 pathway
PMID: 30466959
4
USP12/46-WDR48-WDR20 complex prevents ESCRT-mediated lysosomal degradation of β1 integrin by deubiquitination
PMID: 39506038
5
USP46-WDR20 complex deubiquitinates LRP6 to promote Wnt/β-catenin signaling
PMID: 37798301
6
WDR20 orchestrates USP12/46-mediated c-Myc deubiquitination to prevent HCC senescence and promote tumor progression
PMID: 39432777
7
WDR20 is elevated in prostate cancer and required for USP12-mediated androgen receptor deubiquitination and stability
PMID: 26462181
8
WDR20 functions as adaptor protein in ERAD regulation through interactions with p97, GP78 and HRD1
PMID: 29655804
9
WDR20 interacts with USP46 to regulate GluA1 deubiquitination and AMPA receptor trafficking in neurons
PMID: 40467011
Disease Associationsⓘ20
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.51Moderate
goutOpen Targets
0.34Weak
alcohol drinkingOpen Targets
0.28Weak
crush injuryOpen Targets
0.27Weak
atrial fibrillationOpen Targets
0.25Weak
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.24Weak
lysosomal storage diseaseOpen Targets
0.24Weak
multiple sclerosisOpen Targets
0.24Weak
Parkinson diseaseOpen Targets
0.24Weak
chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseOpen Targets
0.24Weak
Abnormality of the skeletal systemOpen Targets
0.22Weak
Delayed speech and language developmentOpen Targets
0.12Weak
DolichocephalyOpen Targets
0.12Weak
Global developmental delayOpen Targets
0.12Weak
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
nonpapillary renal cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
pachyonychia congenitaOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
renal cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
gastric cancerOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
USP1Protein interaction88%PHLPP2Protein interaction88%PHLPP1Protein interaction88%BRAPProtein interaction78%USP12Protein interaction76%USP46Protein interaction71%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Brain
97%
Heart
90%
Ovary
89%
Liver
77%
Lung
70%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
WDR20USP1PHLPP2PHLPP1BRAPUSP12USP46
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB5K19 · 2.60 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.20Highly Constrained
pLIⓘ
1.00Intolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.08 [0.03–0.20]
RankingsWhere WDR20 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #6,690of 20,598
    Most Researched71
  • #441of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.20 · top 5%
Genes detectedWDR20
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
WDR20 prevents hepatocellular carcinoma senescence by orchestrating the simultaneous USP12/46-mediated deubiquitination of c-Myc.
PMID: 39432777
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2024
1.00
2
The USP46 complex deubiquitylates LRP6 to promote Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
PMID: 37798301
Nat Commun · 2023
0.90
3
The USP12/46 deubiquitinases protect integrins from ESCRT-mediated lysosomal degradation.
PMID: 39506038
EMBO Rep · 2024
0.80
4
DEPDC5 regulates the strength of excitatory synaptic transmission by interacting with ubiquitin-specific protease 46.
PMID: 40467011
Neurobiol Dis · 2025
0.70
5
The dystrophia myotonica WD repeat-containing protein DMWD and WDR20 differentially regulate USP12 deubiquitinase.
PMID: 33844468
FEBS J · 2021
0.60