Affinage

USP44

Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 44 · UniProt Q9H0E7

Length
712 aa
Mass
81.2 kDa
Annotated
2026-06-11
44 papers in source corpus 26 papers cited in narrative 26 extracted findings
Cross-family judge vs UniProt: Affinage preferred faithfulness: 5/5 claims corpus-supported (100%)

Mechanistic narrative

Synthesis pass · prose summary of the discoveries below

USP44 is a nuclear, catalytically active deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) containing a ZnF-UBP domain and a canonical Cys/His/Asn-Asp catalytic triad, with broad roles in chromatin regulation, mitotic fidelity, DNA repair, and protein-stability control (PMID:20402667). On chromatin it removes monoubiquitin from histone H2B-K120 in opposition to RNF20, a function deployed both during embryonic stem cell differentiation and as an integral subunit of the N-CoR co-repressor complex to maintain transcriptional repression (PMID:22681888, PMID:27880911); it also deubiquitinates histone H2A at DNA double-strand breaks, antagonizing the RNF8/RNF168 cascade and limiting 53BP1 retention (PMID:23615962). USP44 safeguards genome stability through two genetically separable mitotic activities — reinforcing the spindle-assembly checkpoint by promoting Mad2–Cdc20 association at the APC/C, and controlling centrosome separation, positioning, and spindle geometry via direct binding to centrin — and its loss in mice produces spontaneous and carcinogen-induced tumors (PMID:21853124, PMID:23187126, PMID:33937266). A second, dominant theme is site-specific removal of K48-linked polyubiquitin chains to stabilize diverse substrates, including the innate-immune adaptor MITA/STING at K236, FOXP3, the E3 ligases TRIM25 (K439) and STUB1 (K30), DDB2 in nucleotide excision repair, Axin1, TRAF6, and the CDK inhibitor p21 (PMID:31968013, PMID:32644293, PMID:35079021, PMID:39215663, PMID:33937266, PMID:32285989, PMID:41333036, PMID:39430240). Through these substrates USP44 modulates antiviral interferon signaling, regulatory T-cell suppressive function, DNA-repair pathway choice, Wnt and Hedgehog signaling, and cell-cycle progression, and acts contextually as a tumor suppressor or, by stabilizing EZH2, as a driver of tumor phenotypes (PMID:31968013, PMID:32644293, PMID:30622230, PMID:32285989).

Mechanistic history

Synthesis pass · year-by-year structured walk · 12 steps
  1. 2010 Medium

    Establishing that USP44 is a genuine enzyme was the prerequisite for all downstream mechanism: the founding study showed it cleaves ubiquitin from substrates and defined its catalytic architecture and nuclear localization.

    Evidence In vitro and in vivo deubiquitinase assays, domain/catalytic-residue analysis, and immunofluorescence localization

    PMID:20402667

    Open questions at the time
    • No physiological substrate identified at this stage
    • Linkage specificity of cleavage not defined
    • Single-lab biochemical characterization
  2. 2012 High

    Two 2012 studies placed USP44 at the heart of mitotic fidelity, showing it reinforces the spindle checkpoint via Mad2-Cdc20 at the APC/C and, separately, controls centrosome and spindle geometry through centrin binding.

    Evidence Overexpression in MEFs with co-IP of Mad2-Cdc20 and cyclin B1 assays; Usp44-knockout mice with chromosome lagging, centrosome positioning, and direct centrin-binding assays

    PMID:21853124 PMID:23187126

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct APC/C substrate of USP44's DUB activity in this context not defined
    • Mechanism by which centrin binding controls spindle geometry not resolved
    • Relationship between the checkpoint and centrosome functions left genetically separable but mechanistically distinct
  3. 2012 High

    USP44 was identified as a histone H2B deubiquitinase opposing RNF20, linking it to transcriptional control during differentiation.

    Evidence Reciprocal knockdown/overexpression in ESCs with H2Bub1 ChIP and gene-expression/epistasis analysis

    PMID:22681888

    Open questions at the time
    • Genomic targeting determinants of USP44 not defined
    • Whether H2B activity requires partner complexes unaddressed at this point
  4. 2013 High

    USP44 was shown to act at DNA double-strand breaks, deubiquitinating H2A and antagonizing the RNF8/RNF168-53BP1 axis, extending its chromatin role into DNA-damage signaling.

    Evidence DUB overexpression screen, 53BP1/RNF168 foci imaging, and H2A-specific deubiquitylation assays

    PMID:23615962

    Open questions at the time
    • Recruitment mechanism to DSB sites only partly defined
    • Physiological balance with RNF168 in unperturbed repair unclear
  5. 2016 High

    Defining USP44 as an integral N-CoR subunit explained how its H2B deubiquitinase activity is targeted to specific repressed loci and tied it to cancer cell invasiveness.

    Evidence Mass-spectrometric identification of the N-CoR complex, co-IP, in vitro H2B deubiquitylation, ChIP, and knockdown invasion assays

    PMID:27880911

    Open questions at the time
    • Stoichiometry and assembly of USP44 within N-CoR not resolved
    • Direct vs complex-dependent contribution to invasion not separated
  6. 2019 Medium

    A series of substrate-stabilization studies began showing USP44 protects target proteins from proteasomal degradation, with EZH2 and FBP1 as early examples in cancer.

    Evidence Co-IP, ubiquitination assays, and knockdown/rescue with EZH2 or FBP1 in prostate and pancreatic cancer cells

    PMID:30622230 PMID:31497353

    Open questions at the time
    • Ubiquitin-chain linkage and exact deubiquitination sites not always mapped
    • Direct vs indirect deubiquitination not fully distinguished
  7. 2020 High

    USP44 was established as a K48-specific stabilizer of immune and signaling regulators — MITA/STING (at K236), FOXP3, and Axin1 — connecting it to antiviral interferon signaling, Treg suppressive function, and Wnt pathway inactivation.

    Evidence Co-IP, K48-linkage-specific ubiquitination assays, site mapping, USP44-deficient/knockout mouse models, viral infection and Treg suppression phenotypes

    PMID:31968013 PMID:32285989 PMID:32644293

    Open questions at the time
    • How USP44 selects among these substrates in different cell types unclear
    • Cooperation with USP7 on FOXP3 mechanistically undefined
    • Stimulus-dependent recruitment to MITA only partly resolved
  8. 2021 High

    USP44 was shown to stabilize DDB2 to license nucleotide excision repair of UV photolesions, with knockout mice prone to carcinogen- and UV-induced tumors, reinforcing its tumor-suppressor role.

    Evidence In vitro deubiquitylation, KO cells and mice, DDB2/XPC lesion-recruitment imaging, and tumor-induction experiments

    PMID:33937266

    Open questions at the time
    • Selectivity for CPD repair vs other NER substeps not fully explained
    • Regulation of USP44 recruitment to UV lesions undefined
  9. 2022 High

    USP44 was found to stabilize E3 ligases themselves (TRIM25 at K439) and chromatin factors (WDR5), revealing it can shape downstream ubiquitination cascades and DNA-repair pathway choice indirectly.

    Evidence Co-IP, site-specific K48 ubiquitination assays, TRIM25/WDR5 knockout-rescue, Ku80 recruitment and radiosensitivity assays

    PMID:35079021 PMID:36483601

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether USP44 acts on TRIM25 and WDR5 in the same cells/contexts unknown
    • Broader network of USP44-stabilized E3 ligases not mapped
  10. 2023 Medium

    Substrate scope expanded to Hedgehog signaling (via Itch/Gli1) and to a regulatory layer where MAD2 sequesters USP44 in the nucleus to control cytoplasmic LIMA1 stability, illustrating spatial control of USP44 activity.

    Evidence Quantitative proteomics, co-IP, ubiquitination assays, subcellular fractionation, and rescue experiments in HCC and cholangiocarcinoma

    PMID:37752233 PMID:38097536

    Open questions at the time
    • Mechanism and physiological generality of MAD2-mediated nuclear sequestration unclear
    • Direct vs indirect action on Gli1 via Itch not fully isolated
  11. 2024 Medium

    Multiple 2024 studies broadened the stabilized-substrate repertoire (p21, BRCA2, HEXIM1, ITGB4) and added a Fanconi-anemia-pathway role, consolidating USP44 as a context-dependent regulator of cell cycle, DNA repair, and chemoresistance.

    Evidence Co-IP, K48-specific ubiquitination assays, BioID proximity proteomics, cell-cycle and chromosome-breakage analyses, and rescue experiments across thyroid, neuroblastoma, OSCC and gastric cancer models

    PMID:39430240 PMID:39722007 PMID:39767807 PMID:40824171

    Open questions at the time
    • Many substrate interactions rest on single-lab co-IP/proteomics without reciprocal or structural validation
    • Direct deubiquitination vs interaction-only relationships not always separated
    • ITGB4 axis (idx 19) is Low-confidence with pathway inferred from indirect readouts
  12. 2025 Medium

    Recent work extended USP44 substrate stabilization to STUB1 (K30), TRAF6, SENP2, MAOB and RBM14, linking it to mitochondrial ROS, inflammasome-driven pyroptosis, metastasis, and radioprotection, and identified EGR1 as a transcriptional inducer of USP44.

    Evidence Co-IP, site-specific and CHX-chase ubiquitination assays, transcriptome/proteomic profiling, KO/knockdown rescue, and in vivo disease models (COPD, neuroblastoma, ESCC, lung adenocarcinoma)

    PMID:39215663 PMID:41250203 PMID:41299552 PMID:41333036 PMID:42183175

    Open questions at the time
    • Several 2025 substrates (MAOB, RBM14) are Low-confidence single-lab findings
    • Upstream regulation of USP44 beyond EGR1 largely undefined
    • Tissue-specific determinants of pro- vs anti-tumor activity unresolved

Open questions

Synthesis pass · forward-looking unresolved questions
  • It remains unresolved how a single nuclear DUB selects among its very large and context-divergent substrate set and how its opposing tumor-suppressor and tumor-promoting outcomes are determined.
  • No structural model explaining substrate/linkage selectivity
  • No unified framework for cell-type-specific substrate engagement
  • Mechanism switching between genome-protective and oncogenic (e.g. EZH2-stabilizing) roles undefined

Mechanism profile

Synthesis pass · controlled-vocabulary classification · explore literature graph →
Molecular activity
GO:0140096 catalytic activity, acting on a protein 8 GO:0098772 molecular function regulator activity 5 GO:0016787 hydrolase activity 3 GO:0042393 histone binding 3
Localization
GO:0000228 nuclear chromosome 2 GO:0005634 nucleus 2 GO:0005815 microtubule organizing center 1
Pathway
R-HSA-392499 Metabolism of proteins 4 R-HSA-73894 DNA Repair 4 R-HSA-162582 Signal Transduction 3 R-HSA-1640170 Cell Cycle 3 R-HSA-168256 Immune System 3 R-HSA-4839726 Chromatin organization 2
Partners
AXIN1CENTRINDDB2EZH2FOXP3MITA/STINGSTUB1TRIM25
Complex memberships
N-CoR co-repressor complex

Evidence

Reading pass · 26 per-paper findings extracted from the source corpus
Year Finding Method Journal Conf PMIDs
2010 USP44 encodes a catalytically active deubiquitinating enzyme that can cleave ubiquitin from ubiquitinated substrates both in vitro and in vivo. USP44 itself undergoes K48- and K63-linked polyubiquitination. The protein contains a ZnF-UBP domain and conserved catalytic residues (Cys, His, Asn/Asp). Subcellular localization studies showed predominant nuclear expression. In vitro deubiquitinase assay, in vivo ubiquitination assay, in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, immunofluorescence/localization Cell biology international Medium 20402667
2012 USP44 is a key regulator of APC/C activation during the mitotic checkpoint. Overexpression of USP44 promotes association of Mad2 with Cdc20, reinforcing the mitotic checkpoint, and stabilizes cyclin B1 in G2. High USP44 causes chromosome segregation errors and aneuploidy in non-transformed cells. Overexpression in murine embryonic fibroblasts, co-immunoprecipitation (Mad2-Cdc20 interaction), chromosome analysis, cyclin B1 degradation assays PloS one Medium 21853124
2012 USP44 negatively regulates H2B monoubiquitination (H2Bub1) on lysine 120, acting as a deubiquitinase that opposes RNF20-mediated H2B ubiquitylation. Downregulation of USP44 during embryonic stem cell differentiation contributes to the increase in H2Bub1 required for efficient differentiation, particularly for transcriptional induction of long genes. USP44 knockdown/overexpression in ESCs, H2Bub1 ChIP, gene expression analysis, RNF20/USP44 epistasis Molecular cell High 22681888
2012 USP44 prevents chromosome segregation errors by regulating centrosome separation, positioning, and mitotic spindle geometry through direct binding to the centriole protein centrin. This function is independent of its role in the mitotic checkpoint. Usp44-knockout mice develop spontaneous tumors. Usp44 knockout mouse engineering, chromosome lagging assays, centrosome positioning analysis, direct binding assay with centrin, mitotic spindle geometry measurements The Journal of clinical investigation High 23187126
2013 USP44 is recruited to RNF168-generated ubiquitylation products at DNA double-strand break (DSB) sites and promotes efficient deubiquitylation of histone H2A. USP44 overexpression powerfully inhibits RNF8/RNF168-mediated 53BP1 retention at DSBs by reducing RNF168 accrual. Unlike USP29, USP44's activity is specific to ubiquitylated H2A. DUB overexpression screen, immunofluorescence for 53BP1 and RNF168 foci at DSBs, H2A deubiquitylation assay, USP44 depletion experiments The Journal of biological chemistry High 23615962
2016 USP44 is an integral subunit of the nuclear receptor co-repressor (N-CoR) complex. Within this complex, USP44 directly deubiquitinates histone H2B in vitro and in vivo. Ablation of USP44 impairs the repressive activity of N-CoR. ChIP confirmed that USP44 recruitment reduces H2Bub1 at N-CoR target loci. USP44 depletion also impairs invasiveness of triple-negative breast cancer cells and increases global H2Bub1. Mass spectrometry identification of N-CoR complex components, co-immunoprecipitation, in vitro H2B deubiquitylation assay, ChIP, USP44 knockdown with invasion assay Cell reports High 27880911
2019 USP44 interacts with EZH2 and prevents its ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, thereby stabilizing EZH2 protein and maintaining its gene silencing (H3K27 methyltransferase) activity. USP44 knockdown reduces EZH2 protein levels and inhibits tumorigenic characteristics of prostate cancer cells; ectopic EZH2 rescues the knockdown phenotype. Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay, USP44 knockdown/rescue with EZH2, in vitro and in vivo tumor assays Molecules and cells Medium 30622230
2019 USP44 promotes deubiquitination of FBP1 (fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase), increasing FBP1 protein expression in pancreatic cancer cells, which suppresses aerobic glycolysis and inhibits tumor progression and gemcitabine resistance. Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay, USP44 overexpression/knockdown with FBP1 protein level measurement, cell proliferation and drug resistance assays American journal of cancer research Medium 31497353
2020 USP44 interacts with and stabilizes FOXP3 in induced regulatory T cells (iTregs) by removing K48-linked ubiquitin modifications, preventing proteasomal degradation of FOXP3. TGF-β induces USP44 expression during iTreg differentiation. USP44 cooperates with USP7 to stabilize FOXP3. Tregs lacking USP44 show reduced suppressive function in vitro and in vivo. Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay, USP44 genetic knockout in Tregs, in vitro Treg suppression assays, in vivo inflammatory models EMBO reports High 32644293
2020 USP44 is recruited to MITA/STING following DNA virus infection and removes K48-linked polyubiquitin moieties from MITA at K236, preventing proteasome-mediated degradation of MITA and sustaining innate antiviral signaling (type I IFN and pro-inflammatory cytokine induction). USP44-deficient mice show accelerated HSV-1-induced MITA degradation, reduced interferon induction, and greater susceptibility to HSV-1. Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay (K48 linkage-specific), USP44-deficient mouse model, viral titer measurement, cytokine induction assays PLoS pathogens High 31968013
2020 USP44 overexpression increases Axin1 protein (but not mRNA) levels by interacting with Axin1 and reducing its ubiquitination, thereby stabilizing Axin1 and inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Axin1 knockdown abolishes the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of USP44 in colorectal cancer cells. Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay, Axin1 knockdown rescue experiment, Wnt/β-catenin pathway target protein western blot Cell biology international Medium 32285989
2021 USP44 directly deubiquitinates DDB2 to prevent its premature proteasomal degradation, selectively facilitating repair of UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) through nucleotide excision repair (NER). Cells lacking USP44 show impaired DDB2 accumulation on DNA lesions and defective XPC retention. Usp44-null mice are prone to DMBA- and UV-induced tumors. In vitro deubiquitylation assay, USP44 KO cell lines and mouse models, ChIP/live-cell imaging of DDB2/XPC at lesions, tumor induction experiments Frontiers in cell and developmental biology High 33937266
2022 USP44 recruits and stabilizes the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM25 by removing K48-linked polyubiquitin chains at Lys439 of TRIM25. Stabilized TRIM25 then promotes degradation of Ku80, inhibiting its recruitment to DSBs and suppressing NHEJ DNA repair, thereby enhancing radiosensitivity. Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay (K48 linkage, specific site Lys439), TRIM25 knockout rescue experiments, Ku80 recruitment assays at DSBs, in vitro and in vivo radiosensitivity assays Nature communications High 35079021
2022 USP44 interacts with WDR5 and represses its K48-linked ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, stabilizing WDR5 protein. This interaction promotes T-ALL cell proliferation and survival; WDR5 overexpression rescues apoptosis induced by USP44 knockdown. Co-immunoprecipitation, co-localization, ubiquitination assay, USP44 knockdown/overexpression, WDR5 rescue experiments, in vivo xenograft International journal of medical sciences Medium 36483601
2023 USP44 directly interacts with Itch (an E3 ligase in Hedgehog signaling) and promotes its deubiquitination and stabilization. Stabilized Itch promotes proteasomal degradation of Gli1, thereby inactivating Hedgehog signaling and suppressing PDL1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Quantitative proteomics, co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay, USP44 knockdown/overexpression, Gli1 and PDL1 measurement, in vitro and in vivo tumor assays Cell death & disease Medium 38097536
2023 MAD2 sequesters USP44 in the nucleus of cholangiocarcinoma cells, impairing formation of the USP44/LIMA1 complex in the cytoplasm and enhancing K48-linked ubiquitination and degradation of LIMA1, thereby activating the IGF1R/PI3K/AKT pathway and promoting cancer progression. Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay, subcellular fractionation, USP44/LIMA1 complex analysis, AKT pathway readout Oncogene Medium 37752233
2024 USP44 directly interacts with p21 (CDKN1A) and eliminates its K48-linked polyubiquitin chain in a cell cycle-independent manner, stabilizing p21 protein. This stabilization suppresses the G1/S transition and inhibits thyroid cancer cell proliferation; rescue of p21 partially reverses the effects of USP44 depletion. Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay (K48-specific), USP44 knockdown/rescue with p21, cell cycle analysis, in vitro and in vivo proliferation assays International journal of biological sciences Medium 39430240
2024 USP44 directly interacts with BRCA2 in neuroblastoma cells, as established by proximity biotinylation (BioID) proteomics and validated by immunoprecipitation. Cells lacking USP44 show increased chromosome breaks and radial chromosomes after mitomycin C treatment, indicating a role for USP44 in the Fanconi anemia DNA repair pathway. BioID proximity biotinylation mass spectrometry, immunoprecipitation validation, chromosome breakage analysis in USP44-null cells after MMC treatment Biomedicines Medium 39767807
2024 USP44 interacts with HEXIM1 and enhances HEXIM1 protein stability. Silencing HEXIM1 enhances the malignant phenotype of OSCC cells and reverses the antitumor effects of USP44 overexpression, placing HEXIM1 downstream of USP44. Co-IP mass spectrometry, label-free quantitative LC-MS/MS proteomics, co-immunoprecipitation, USP44 overexpression/knockdown, HEXIM1 knockdown rescue Biology direct Medium 39722007
2024 USP44 stabilizes ITGB4 via deubiquitination, and this prevents cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells by modulating ROS and the MAPK/NF-κB pathway. ITGB4 affects P-gp expression and antioxidant enzyme activity through MAPK/NF-κB signaling. Proteomic analysis, co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay, USP44 overexpression/knockdown, ROS measurement, MAPK/NF-κB pathway readouts FASEB journal Low 40824171
2025 USP44 recruits and stabilizes STUB1 (CHIP E3 ligase) by removing K48-linked polyubiquitin chains at Lys30 of STUB1. Stabilized STUB1 promotes K48-linked polyubiquitination of LRPPRC at Lys453 and its degradation, increasing mitochondrial ROS accumulation and cisplatin-induced apoptosis in neuroblastoma. Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay (K48 linkage, site-specific at Lys30 and Lys453), USP44 overexpression/knockdown, LRPPRC rescue experiments, mROS measurement Neuro-oncology Medium 39215663
2025 EGR1 transcriptionally induces USP44 expression in cigarette smoke-exposed lung epithelial cells. USP44 then deubiquitinates and stabilizes TRAF6, promoting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. Inhibition of either EGR1 or USP44 reduces CSE-induced pyroptosis and alleviates COPD-like pathology in mice. Transcriptome sequencing, co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay, EGR1/USP44 knockdown in cellular and animal COPD models, pyroptosis assays (PI staining, caspase-1/GSDMD western blot) Journal of inflammation research Medium 41333036
2025 USP44 interacts with EZH2 in triple-negative breast cancer cells, preventing EZH2 ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, thereby promoting chemotherapy resistance. The EZH2 inhibitor GSK126 reverses the chemoresistance induced by USP44 overexpression. Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay, USP44 knockdown/overexpression, EZH2 inhibitor treatment, in vivo xenograft models Cancer biology & therapy Medium 40619273
2025 USP44 interacts with SENP2 and stabilizes it through deubiquitination, thereby inhibiting esophageal squamous cell carcinoma invasion and metastasis. Knockdown of SENP2 reduces the inhibitory effect of USP44 on ESCC cell migration. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, co-immunoprecipitation, cycloheximide chase assay, ubiquitination analysis, USP44 overexpression/knockdown in vitro and in vivo Clinical epigenetics Medium 41250203
2025 USP44 stabilizes MAOB (monoamine oxidase B) via deubiquitination in lung adenocarcinoma cells. The USP44-MAOB axis inhibits cisplatin resistance and malignant phenotypes; MAOB knockdown reverses USP44-mediated effects on DDP sensitivity. Co-immunoprecipitation, cycloheximide (CHX) chase assay, ubiquitination assay, USP44 overexpression/knockdown, MAOB knockdown rescue International journal of genomics Low 42183175
2025 USP44 protein delivered via bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles stabilizes RBM14 through deubiquitination, protecting epididymal cells from radiation-induced DNA damage, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Silencing USP44 in donor MSCs abrogates these protective effects. USP44 deubiquitination assay, USP44 knockdown in MSCs/EVs, RBM14 protein stability assay, cell viability, apoptosis, and DNA damage assays in irradiated cells Stem cell research & therapy Low 41299552

Source papers

Stage 0 corpus · 44 papers · ranked by NIH iCite citations
Year Title Journal Citations PMID
2012 RNF20 and USP44 regulate stem cell differentiation by modulating H2B monoubiquitylation. Molecular cell 177 22681888
2012 USP44 regulates centrosome positioning to prevent aneuploidy and suppress tumorigenesis. The Journal of clinical investigation 148 23187126
2013 The deubiquitylating enzyme USP44 counteracts the DNA double-strand break response mediated by the RNF8 and RNF168 ubiquitin ligases. The Journal of biological chemistry 117 23615962
2022 USP44 regulates irradiation-induced DNA double-strand break repair and suppresses tumorigenesis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Nature communications 81 35079021
2020 The deubiquitinase USP44 promotes Treg function during inflammation by preventing FOXP3 degradation. EMBO reports 64 32644293
2011 Overexpression of ubiquitin specific protease 44 (USP44) induces chromosomal instability and is frequently observed in human T-cell leukemia. PloS one 59 21853124
2015 USP44+ Cancer Stem Cell Subclones Contribute to Breast Cancer Aggressiveness by Promoting Vasculogenic Mimicry. Molecular cancer therapeutics 53 26232424
2020 Linc-RA1 inhibits autophagy and promotes radioresistance by preventing H2Bub1/USP44 combination in glioma cells. Cell death & disease 45 32934196
2020 USP44 suppresses proliferation and enhances apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells by inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway via Axin1 deubiquitination. Cell biology international 42 32285989
2020 CircFOXO3 functions as a molecular sponge for miR-143-3p to promote the progression of gastric carcinoma via upregulating USP44. Gene 41 32445925
2019 USP44 Promotes the Tumorigenesis of Prostate Cancer Cells through EZH2 Protein Stabilization. Molecules and cells 41 30622230
2019 USP44 suppresses pancreatic cancer progression and overcomes gemcitabine resistance by deubiquitinating FBP1. American journal of cancer research 40 31497353
2016 USP44 Is an Integral Component of N-CoR that Contributes to Gene Repression by Deubiquitinating Histone H2B. Cell reports 40 27880911
2014 Epigenetic inactivation of the candidate tumor suppressor USP44 is a frequent and early event in colorectal neoplasia. Epigenetics 38 24837038
2022 Increased m6A modification of lncRNA DBH-AS1 suppresses pancreatic cancer growth and gemcitabine resistance via the miR-3163/USP44 axis. Annals of translational medicine 30 35433957
2020 USP44 positively regulates innate immune response to DNA viruses through deubiquitinating MITA. PLoS pathogens 30 31968013
2012 The deubiquitinase USP44 is a tumor suppressor that protects against chromosome missegregation. The Journal of clinical investigation 29 23187131
2010 K48- and K63-linked polyubiquitination of deubiquitinating enzyme USP44. Cell biology international 23 20402667
2021 USP44 Promoter Methylation in Plasma Cell-Free DNA in Prostate Cancer. Cancers 19 34572834
2023 MAD2 activates IGF1R/PI3K/AKT pathway and promotes cholangiocarcinoma progression by interfering USP44/LIMA1 complex. Oncogene 15 37752233
2023 The deubiquitinating enzyme USP44 suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression by inhibiting Hedgehog signaling and PDL1 expression. Cell death & disease 15 38097536
2020 USP44 hypermethylation promotes cell proliferation and metastasis in breast cancer. Future oncology (London, England) 15 32956592
2022 Insight into the physiological and pathological roles of USP44, a potential tumor target (Review). Oncology letters 11 36380875
2022 USP44 accelerates the growth of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia through interacting with WDR5 and repressing its ubiquitination. International journal of medical sciences 11 36483601
2021 USP44 Stabilizes DDB2 to Facilitate Nucleotide Excision Repair and Prevent Tumors. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology 11 33937266
2025 The deubiquitinase USP44 enhances cisplatin chemosensitivity through stabilizing STUB1 to promote LRPPRC degradation in neuroblastoma. Neuro-oncology 10 39215663
2022 Methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting analysis of the USP44 promoter can detect early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma in blood samples. BMB reports 10 36016503
2021 CRADD and USP44 mutations in intellectual disability, mild lissencephaly, brain atrophy, developmental delay, strabismus, behavioural problems and skeletal anomalies. European journal of medical genetics 9 33647455
2019 USP44 is dispensable for normal hematopoietic stem cell function, lymphocyte development, and B-cell-mediated immune response in a mouse model. Experimental hematology 9 30639577
2024 USP44 inactivation accelerates the progression of thyroid cancer by inducing ubiquitylation and degradation of p21. International journal of biological sciences 8 39430240
2024 CBX7 reprograms metabolic flux to protect against meningioma progression by modulating the USP44/c-MYC/LDHA axis. Journal of molecular cell biology 6 37791390
2025 Chronic Exposure to Cigarette Smoke Induces Pyroptosis in Pulmonary Epithelial Cells via EGR1/USP44/TRAF6 Axis in COPD. Journal of inflammation research 3 41333036
2024 USP44 regulates HEXIM1 stability to inhibit tumorigenesis and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Biology direct 3 39722007
2025 USP44 promotes chemotherapeutic drug resistance of triple negative breast cancer through EZH2 protein stability. Cancer biology & therapy 2 40619273
2024 Mechanism of miR-98-5p in gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through the USP44/CTCFL axis. Toxicology research 2 38500512
2025 USP44, ZNF454, and GPRC5B ctDNA Methylation Markers in Breast Cancer: Limited Clinical Relevance for Disease Monitoring and Tumor Characteristics. Asia-Pacific journal of clinical oncology 1 40922130
2025 Hypermethylated USP44 deubiquitinates SENP2: a critical mechanism in esophageal cancer progression and a new target for intervention. Clinical epigenetics 1 41250203
2024 Proximity Proteomics Reveals USP44 Forms a Complex with BRCA2 in Neuroblastoma Cells and Is Required to Prevent Chromosome Breakage. Biomedicines 1 39767807
2026 Clinical Relevance of USP44 Expression and DNA Methylation Status in Breast Cancer Cell Lines, Tumor Tissues, and Circulating Tumor DNA. Breast cancer (Dove Medical Press) 0 42080060
2026 USP44 Stabilizes MAOB via Deubiquitination to Inhibit Cisplatin Resistance in Lung Adenocarcinoma. International journal of genomics 0 42183175
2025 USP44 Regulates Chemoresistance Induced by ROS and the MAPK/NF-κB Pathway Through the Stabilization of ITGB4 in Gastric Cancer. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 0 40824171
2025 Protective effects of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles on radiation-induced epididymal cells damage via USP44/RBM14 axis. Stem cell research & therapy 0 41299552
2024 Effect of subcutaneous adipose tissue-associated CSRP2 on the progression of prostate cancer via the WDR5/USP44 pathway. American journal of cancer research 0 39659944
2023 RNA-binding protein NOVA1 promotes acute T-lymphocyte leukemia progression by stabilizing USP44 mRNA. Biochemistry and cell biology = Biochimie et biologie cellulaire 0 37816258

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