We identified a ubiquitin hydrolase that controls the DNA replication licensing protein Cdt1: USP37.
USP37 stabilizes mainly a low mobility form of Cdt1 that is unstable and likely to be phosphorylated.
USP37 and Cdt1 interact and USP37 is able to de-ubiquitinate Cdt1 in vivo.
USP37 overexpression increases the MCM7 loading on the chromatin.
USP37 downregulation decreases replication fork speed, indicating a function in DNA replication.