UBL7, a novel cDNA encoding a deduced 380-amino acid protein with a predicted molecular mass of 40.6 kD. The protein contains a UBQ domain at its N terminus and a ubiquitin-associated domain at its C terminus. It shares moderate homology with several ubiquitin-like proteins including UBQLN1 and UBQLN2. Northern blot analysis revealed an approximately 1.3-kb UBL7 transcript in all human tissues tested. RT-PCR detected expression of UBL7 in several tumor cell lines.UBL7 expression was up-regulated in LPS-stimulated acute promyelocytic HL60 cells but remained unchanged in PMA-stimulated HL60 cells. Liu et al. (2003) suggested that UBL7 may play a role in the regulation of BMSC function or cell differentiation through an evocator- and cell-specific pattern.