Ubiquitin-specific-processing protease 7 mRNA (USP7 mRNA)

Ubiquitin-specific-processing protease 7 (USP7) mRNA is the messenger RNA transcript that encodes the USP7 protein, a prominent member of the deubiquitinating enzyme family (UniProt: Q93009). USP7, also known as HAUSP, plays a pivotal role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by regulating the stability of various proteins, most notably the tumor suppressor p53 and its E3 ligase MDM2 (NCBI Gene: 7156). In many human cancers, USP7 is overexpressed, which leads to the degradation of p53 and facilitates oncogenesis and therapeutic resistance (Pfoh et al., 2015; PubMed: 26138443). Consequently, USP7 mRNA has emerged as a strategic therapeutic target for knockdown approaches using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to restore p53 function and induce apoptosis in malignant cells. Beyond oncology, USP7 is involved in DNA damage repair, epigenetic regulation, and immune signaling, and its genetic alterations are linked to the neurodevelopmental condition Hao-Fountain syndrome (Hao et al., 2015; PubMed: 25865494). Targeting the mRNA transcript offers a method to bypass the challenges associated with developing highly selective small-molecule inhibitors for the USP7 catalytic site.

Other names

HAUSP mRNAHerpesvirus-associated ubiquitin-specific protease mRNAUSP7 transcriptUbiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 7 mRNA

Targeting USP7 mRNA typically involves RNA interference (RNAi) or antisense-mediated degradation (e.g., RNase H-mediated cleavage), which prevents the translation of the USP7 protein and subsequently modulates the stability of its substrates like p53 and MDM2 (Vriend et al., 2016; PubMed: 27105553).