Regulated cell death (RCD) is a signal-controlled process that not only eliminates infected, damaged, or aged cells but is also implicated in a variety of pathological conditions. The process of RCD is regulated by intracellular proteins that undergo varying levels of post-translational modifications, including mono- or polyubiquitination. Functionally, ubiquitination can affect protein abundance, localization, and activity. Like other post-translational modifications, ubiquitination is a dynamic and reversible process mediated by deubiquitinases, a large class of proteases that cleave ubiquitin from proteins and other substrates. The balance between ubiquitination and deubiquitination machinery determines cell fate under stressful conditions. Here, we review the latest advances in our understanding of the role of deubiquitinases in regulating the main types of RCD, including apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. This knowledge may contribute to identifying new protein degradation-related prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for human disease.
Keywords: E3 ligases; cell death; deubiquitinases; post-translational modification; protein degradation; ubiquitin.