UBP18 Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody

The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the ubiquitin-specific proteases (UBP) family of enzymes that cleave ubiquitin from ubiquitinated protein substrates. It is highly expressed in liver and thymus| and is localized to the nucleus. This protein efficiently cleaves only ISG15 (a ubiquitin-like protein) fusions| and deletion of this gene in mice results in a massive increase of ISG15 conjugates in tissues| indicating that this protein is a major ISG15-specific protease. Mice lacking this gene are also hypersensitive to interferon| suggesting a function of this protein in downregulating interferon responses| independent of its isopeptidase activity towards ISG15.