Inactive ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 53 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the USP53 gene.[5]
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Although USP53 is classified as a deubiquitinating enzyme based on sequence homology to other proteases from this group, it lacks a functionally essential histidine in the catalytic domaine and activity assays suggest that USP53 is catalytically inactive.
[6][7][8] Even though USP53 is devoid of catalytic activity, USP53 serves important physiological functions:
mutations in Usp53 have been shown to cause progressive hearing loss in mice,[8] as well as late-onset hearing loss and cholestasis in humans.[9]
USP53 localizes at cellular tight junctions and interacts with tight junction protein 2 (TJP2).[8] Mutations in TJP2 have also been shown to cause hearing impairments[10] and cholestasis.[11]
