This gene encodes a cysteine protease that specifically targets members of the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) protein family. This protease regulates SUMO pathways by deconjugating sumoylated proteins. This protease also functions to process the precursor SUMO proteins into their mature form. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jun 2012],function:Protease that catalyzes two essential functions in the SUMO pathway: processing of full-length SUMO1, SUMO2 and SUMO3 to their mature forms and deconjugation of SUMO1, SUMO2 and SUMO3 from targeted proteins. Deconjugates SUMO1 from HIPK2. Deconjugates SUMO1 from HDAC1, which decreases its transcriptional repression activity.,similarity:Belongs to the peptidase C48 family.,subcellular location:Shuttles between cytoplasm and nucleus.,tissue specificity:Highly expressed in testis. Expressed at lower levels in thymus, pancreas, spleen, liver, ovary and small intestine.,
