USP21

This gene encodes a member of the C19 peptidase family, also known as family 2 of ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolases. The encoded protein cleaves ubiquitin from ubiquitinated proteins for recycling in intracellular protein degradation. The encoded protein is also able to release NEDD8, a ubiquitin-like protein, from NEDD8-conjugated proteins. This gene has been referred to as USP16 and USP23 but is now known as USP21. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described. [provided by RefSeq]

ubiquitin specific peptidase 21

Deubiquitinates histone H2A, a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional repression, thereby acting as a coactivator. Deubiquitination of histone H2A releaves the repression of di- and trimethylation of histone H3 at 'Lys-4', resulting in regulation of transcriptional initiation. Regulates gene expression via histone H2A deubiquitination (By similarity).
Also capable of removing NEDD8 from NEDD8 conjugates but has no effect on Sentrin-1 conjugates (PubMed:10799498).
Deubiquitinates BAZ2A/TIP5 leading to its stabilization (PubMed:26100909).

Biological Process chromatin organization Source:UniProtKB-KW
Biological Process histone deubiquitination Source:UniProtKB
Biological Process positive regulation of DNA-templated transcription Source:UniProtKB
Biological Process protein deubiquitination Source:Reactome
Biological Process ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic process Source:InterPro

Cytoplasm
Nucleus