Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 16 (USP16)

Specifically deubiquitinates'Lys-120' of histone H2A (H2AK119Ub), a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional repression, thereby acting as a coactivator. Deubiquitination of histone H2A is a prerequisite for subsequent phosphorylation at'Ser-11' of histone H3 (H3S10ph), and is required for chromosome segregation when cells enter into mitosis.

In resting B- and T- lymphocytes, phosphorylation by AURKB contributes to enhance its activity, thereby keeping transcription in resting lymphocytes. Regulates Hox gene expression via histone H2A deubiquitination.