Ubiquitin-specific protease that regulates cell survival in various contexts through modulating the protein stability of some of its substrates including DDB2, MCL1 or TP53. Plays a positive role on ferritinophagy where ferritin is degraded in lysosomes and releases free iron. Modification of cellular proteins by ubiquitin is an essential regulatory mechanism controlled by the coordinated action of multiple ubiquitin-conjugating and deubiquitinating enzymes. USP24 belongs to a large family of cysteine proteases that function as deubiquitinating enzymes .