MAEA

This gene encodes a protein that mediates the attachment of erythroblasts to macrophages. This attachment promotes terminal maturation and enucleation of erythroblasts, presumably by suppressing apoptosis. The encoded protein is an integral membrane protein with the N-terminus on the extracellular side and the C-terminus on the cytoplasmic side of the cell. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants.

Full Name

MACROPHAGE ERYTHROBLAST ATTACHER

Function

Core component of the CTLH E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex that selectively accepts ubiquitin from UBE2H and mediates ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of the transcription factor HBP1. MAEA and RMND5A are both required for catalytic activity of the CTLH E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex. MAEA is required for normal cell proliferation. The CTLH E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex is not required for the degradation of enzymes involved in gluconeogenesis, such as FBP1 (By similarity).
Plays a role in erythroblast enucleation during erythrocyte maturation and in the development of mature macrophages (By similarity).
Mediates the attachment of erythroid cell to mature macrophages; this MAEA-mediated contact inhibits erythroid cell apoptosis (By similarity).
Participates in erythroblastic island formation, which is the functional unit of definitive erythropoiesis. Associates with F-actin to regulate actin distribution in erythroblasts and macrophages (By similarity).
May contribute to nuclear architecture and cells division events (By similarity).

Biological Process

Cell adhesionIEA:Ensembl
Cell cycleIEA:UniProtKB-KW
Cell divisionIEA:UniProtKB-KW
Cytoskeleton organizationIEA:Ensembl
Enucleate erythrocyte developmentIEA:Ensembl
Erythrocyte maturationIEA:UniProtKB-KW
Negative regulation of myeloid cell apoptotic processIEA:Ensembl
Proteasome-mediated ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic processManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIBA:GO_Central

Cellular Location

Cytoplasm
Nucleus, nucleoplasm
Nucleus matrix
Cell membrane
Cytoplasm, cytoskeleton
Detected in a nuclear, speckled-like pattern (By similarity).
Localized with condensed chromatin at prophase; Detected in nuclear spindle poles at metaphase and in the contractile ring during telophase and cytokinesis (By similarity).
Present in cytoplasm, nuclear matrix and at the cell surface in macrophages; predominantly nuclear in immature macrophages and predominantly detected at the cell surface in mature macrophages. Colocalizes with F-actin in macrophages (By similarity).

PTM

Autoubiquitinated as component of the CTLH E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex (in vitro).