This gene encodes a cysteine protease that specifically targets members of the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) protein family. This protease regulates SUMO pathways by deconjugating sumoylated proteins. This protease also functions to process the precursor SUMO proteins into their mature form. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jun 2012] see less This gene encodes a cysteine protease that specifically targets members of the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) protein family. This protease regulates SUMO pathways by deconjugating sumoylated proteins. This protease also functions to process the precursor SUMO proteins into their mature form. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jun 2012]