Ubiquitin is an important cellular signal that targets proteins for degradation or regulates their functions. UBL7 (ORF name SB132) encodes ubiquitin-like protein7 also named bone marrow stromal cell ubiquitin-like protein (BMSC-UbP) capable of binding ubiquitin. BMSC-UbP protein is derived from bone marrow stromal cells containing a ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain at the C terminus that has been implicated in linking cellular processes and the ubiquitin system. BMSC-UbP mRNA is widely expressed in human multiple tissues and various tumor cell lines and is decreased in BMSC stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) suggesting a role in regulation of BMSC function.