Conjugation of the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) to protein substrates is an important disease-associated posttranslational modification, although few inhibitors of this process are known. Herein, we report the discovery of an allosteric small-molecule binding site on Ubc9, the sole SUMO E2 enzyme.A nX -rayc rystallographic screen was used to identify two distinct small-molecule fragments that bind to Ubc9 at as ite distal to its catalytic cysteine.T hese fragments and related compounds inhibit SUMO conjugation in biochemical assays with potencies of 1.9-5.8 mm.Mechanistic and biophysical analyses,c oupled with molecular dynamics simulations,p oint toward ligand-induced rigidification of Ubc9 as amechanism of inhibition.The posttranslational modification of protein substrates with as mall ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) tag occurs through at ightly regulated E1/E2/E3 enzymatic cascade and modulates ab road variety of cellular functions.[1] Ubc9 is the only E2 enzyme involved in the conjugation of all three SUMO isoforms to many diverse substrates within the proteome.As acentral enzyme in the SUMOylation cycle,Ubc9 is required for normal embryonic development, and it is dysregulated in av ariety of disease states such as cancer [2] and ischemia.[3]Ubc9 has been suggested as ap otential anticancer target for small-molecule inhibitors,n otably for MYC-driven [4] and RAS/Raf-driven [5] cancers,a sw ell as multiple myeloma.[6]Despite its relevance to disease,i th as been challenging to identify small molecules that modulate the function of Ubc9.In related ubiquitin-like signaling pathways,inhibitors of E1 [7] and E3 [8] enzymes are now clinically used as anticancer chemotherapeutics.Bycontrast, very few reversible inhibitors of any of the approximately 40 known ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like E2 conjugating enzymes have been discovered, [9] only one of which has been characterized in complex with the protein.[10] Thus,n ew experimentally validated chemical inhibitors of Ubc9 would provide substantial insight into targeting this important enzyme,a nd potentially E2 enzymes in general.One powerful approach to identify ligands for challenging protein targets is fragment-based inhibitor discovery.[11] In general, fragment-based approaches leverage sensitive techniques such as NMR, thermal shift, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), or X-ray crystallography to identify lowmolecular-weight ligands that bind weakly but specifically to target proteins.[12] Weak leads identified through fragmentbased approaches can provide excellent starting points for the development of highly active inhibitors,e ven in cases where the targets are considered to be challenging,such as proteinprotein interactions or so-called "undruggable" targets. [13] As part of al arger program aimed toward identifying chemical inhibitors of Ubc9, we elected to pursue an X-ray crystallographic fragment screening strategy (see the Supporting Information).[14] Ubc9 crystals diffracting to aresolution of 1.12 ( PDB ID:5 F6E) were soaked with as eries ...