Based on limited published evidence, USP17L1 is a cysteine-type deubiquitinating enzyme that removes conjugated ubiquitin from target proteins. According to UniProt annotations, it regulates cellular processes including cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, cell migration, and viral response through protein stability regulation and apoptotic control. The enzyme localizes to both the cytosol and nucleus. A methylation study identified USP17L1 among genes with differential methylation patterns between primary melanomas and metastatic samples 1, suggesting potential involvement in melanoma metastasis, though this requires further investigation.