Deubiquitinating enzyme tethered to the mitochondrial outer membrane that acts as a key inhibitor of mitophagy by counteracting the action of parkin (PRKN): hydrolyzes ubiquitin attached by parkin on target proteins, such as RHOT1/MIRO1 and TOMM20, thereby blocking parkin’s ability to drive mitophagy (PubMed:18287522, PubMed:24896179, PubMed:25527291, PubMed:25621951). Preferentially cleaves ‘Lys-6’- and ‘Lys-11’-linked polyubiquitin chains, 2 types of linkage that participate in mitophagic signaling (PubMed:25621951). Does not cleave efficiently polyubiquitin phosphorylated at ‘Ser-65’ (PubMed:25527291). Acts as a negative regulator of mitochondrial fusion by mediating deubiquitination of MFN1 and MFN2 (By similarity).
