This gene encodes a member of the ubiquitin specific protease (USP) family of deubiquitinating enzymes. USP enzymes play critical roles in ubiquitin-dependent processes through polyubiquitin chain disassembly and hydrolysis of ubiquitin-substrate bonds. The encoded protein associates with the COP9 signalosome, and also plays a role in transforming growth factor beta signalling through deubiquitination of receptor-activated SMAD transcription factors. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding multiple isoforms have been observed for this gene, and a pseudogene of this gene is located on the long arm of chromosome 2. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2011],catalytic activity:Ubiquitin C-terminal thioester + H(2)O = ubiquitin + a thiol.,similarity:Belongs to the peptidase C19 family.,similarity:Contains 1 DUSP domain.,tissue specificity:Expressed in skeletal muscle, kidney, heart, placenta, liver, thymus, lung, and ovary, with little or no expression in other tissues.,
