The isopeptide bonds formed by ubiquitin or its relatives are cleaved by hydrolases with active site cysteines. Recent studies have revealed that similar metalloprotease motifs--JAMMs--in the Rpn11 subunit of the 26S proteasome lid and in the Csn5 subunit of the COP9 signalosome are involved in deubiquitination and deneddylation, respectively.