Deubiquitinase

Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are a large group of proteases that specifically remove ubiquitin (Ub) or ubiquitin-like proteins (UBLs) from of interest undergoing proteasomal degradation. The DUBs are classified into distinct families based on their sequence similarities and likely mechanisms of action, the vast majority of which are cysteine proteases. These include ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs), ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolases (UCHs), ovarian tumor proteases (OTUs), Machado-Joseph disease proteases (MJDs), Jab1/Mov34/Mpr1 (JAMM) metalloproteases, and the recently-discovered MIU-containing novel DUB family, (MINDY) proteases. They regulate several cellular functions, including proteasome-dependent and lysosome-dependent proteolysis, gene expression, cell cycle progression, chromosome segregation, kinase activation, apoptosis, localization, DNA repair, maintenance of stemness, spermatogenesis, and degradation of signaling intermediates.