Protease that catalyzes two essential functions in the SUMO pathway (PubMed:10652325, PubMed:15199155, PubMed:16253240, PubMed:16553580, PubMed:21829689, PubMed:21965678, PubMed:23160374, PubMed:24943844, PubMed:25406032, PubMed:29506078). The first is the hydrolysis of an alpha-linked peptide bond at the C-terminal end of the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) propeptides, SUMO1, SUMO2 and SUMO3 leading to the mature form of the proteins. The second is the deconjugation of SUMO1, SUMO2 and SUMO3 from targeted proteins, by cleaving an epsilon-linked peptide bond between the C-terminal glycine of the mature SUMO and the lysine epsilon-amino group of the target protein. Deconjugates SUMO1 from HIPK2 (PubMed:16253240). Deconjugates SUMO1 from HDAC1 and BHLHE40/DEC1, which decreases its transcriptional repression activity (PubMed:21829689). Deconjugates SUMO1 from CLOCK, which decreases its transcriptional activation activity (PubMed:23160374). Deconjugates SUMO2 from MTA1 (PubMed:21965678). Deconjugates SUMO1 from METTL3 (PubMed:29506078). Desumoylates CCAR2 which decreases its interaction with SIRT1 (PubMed:25406032). Deconjugates SUMO1 from GPS2 (PubMed:24943844). Interacts with MTA1. Interacts with CCAR2 (via N-terminus). Shuttles between cytoplasm and nucleus. Highly expressed in testis. Expressed at lower levels in thymus, pancreas, spleen, liver, ovary and small intestine. Belongs to the peptidase C48 family.