UBIQUITIN CARBOXYTERMINAL HYDROLASE L1

(= UCH-L1)

An abundant protein in the brain (up to 2% of total protein). A thiol protease that is thought to cleave polymeric ubiquitin to monomers and hydrolyze bonds between ubiquitin and small adducts. Found in Lewy bodies and mutations in UCH-L1 have been associated with familial forms of Parkinsonism.