DUBA belongs to a subfamily of 14 DUBs characterized by an OTU (Ovarian Tumor) domain. This protein suppress the type I interferon-dependent innate immune response by cleaving the polyubiquitin chain from an essential type I interferon adaptor protein. Cleavage results in disassociation of the adaptor protein from a downstream signaling complex and disruption of the type I interferon signaling cascade. DUBA forms a direct complex with p53 and controls level of ubiquitination. The function of DUBA is required to allow the rapid activation of p53-dependent transcription and a p53-dependent apoptosis in response to DNA damage stress.