Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42469262›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

ZnF-UBP domains regulate deubiquitinase activity by relieving ubiquitin product inhibition.

Jack A Alexandrovics, Rashmi Agrata, Jan André Hane, Philipp Schenk, Anthony Cerra, Ueli Nachbur, Malte Gersch, Jeffrey J Babon, David Komander

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jack A AlexandrovicsWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Rashmi AgrataWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Jan André HaneChemical Genomics Center, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-8752-884X
Philipp SchenkWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6044-1068
Anthony CerraWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Ueli NachburWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Malte GerschChemical Genomics Center, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2767-9589
Jeffrey J BabonWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5408-6239
David KomanderWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia. dk@wehi.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8092-4320

Funding

Department of Health | National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) GNT1178122
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Most ubiquitin specific protease (USP) deubiquitinases (DUBs) combine non-selective catalytic domains with one or multiple 'exo'-domains that contribute substrate specificity and localisation, but are generally poorly characterised. Zinc-Finger UBP (ZnF-UBP) domains exist in 12 USP DUBs, yet their function is unclear. We here comprehensively analyse human ZnF-UBP domains, and reveal that 8 of 14 bind ubiquitin (Ub) via an unattached Ub C-terminal GlyGly motif. We focus on USP16, a nucleosome DUB with activity for Ub and Ub-like modifiers, and show that its ZnF-UBP domain can bind substrates, but is also a crucial contributor to enzyme kinetics. Slow Ub release from the catalytic domain after cleavage causes product inhibition, which is overcome in cis by ZnF-UBP-mediated product release. Interestingly, supplying a high affinity product-capturing ZnF-UBP domain in trans, activates USP16 and other USP enzymes. Our data shows the importance of product inhibition as a regulatory mechanism in DUBs, and exemplifies the unappreciated role of exo-domains in regulating DUB function beyond substrate binding.

Indexed as

Deubiquitinating EnzymesUbiquitinUbiquitin-Specific ProteasesZinc FingersCatalytic DomainHumansKineticsProtein BindingProtein DomainsSubstrate SpecificityUbiquitin ThiolesteraseDeubiquitinating EnzymesUbiquitinUbiquitin-Specific ProteasesUbiquitin Thiolesterase

Identifiers

PMID42469262
PMCPMC13493902

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.