USP7

Ubiquitin specific peptidase 7 (herpes virus-associated), also known as USP7, is a human gene.

HAUSP is a direct antagonist of Mdm2 activity and acts by removing ubiquitin molecules specifically from p53 when stimulated by DNA damage. Interestingly, HAUSP can protect p53 from Mdm2-mediated degradation, indicating that it may possess a tumor suppressor function for the immediate stabilization of p53 in response to stress. Another exciting premise of HAUSP function involves the oncogenic stabilization of p53. Oncogenes such as Myc and E1A are thought to activate p53 through a p19 alternative reading frame (p19ARF, also called ARF)-dependent pathway, although some evidence suggests ARF is not essential in this process. An intriguing possibility is that HAUSP provides an alternative pathway for safeguarding the cell against oncogenic insults.