Microtubule-associated protein 4 is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, res ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''MAP4''
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...
.
The protein encoded by this gene is a major non-neuronal microtubule-associated protein. This protein contains a domain similar to the microtubule-binding domains of neuronal microtubule-associated protein (
MAP2
Microtubule-associated protein 2 is a protein in humans that is encoded by the ''MAP2'' gene.
Function
This gene encodes a protein that belongs to the microtubule-associated protein family. The proteins of this family were originally isolated s ...
) and microtubule-associated protein tau (
MAPT/TAU). This protein promotes microtubule assembly, and has been shown to counteract destabilization of interphase microtubule catastrophe promotion. Cyclin B was found to interact with this protein, which targets cell division cycle 2 (
CDC2
Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 also known as CDK1 or cell division cycle protein 2 homolog is a highly conserved protein that functions as a serine/threonine protein kinase, and is a key player in cell cycle regulation. It has been highly studied in th ...
) kinase to microtubules. The phosphorylation of this protein affects microtubule properties and cell cycle progression. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been observed, the full-length nature of three of which are supported.
uMAP4, the ubiquitous isoform of MAP4, functions in the architecture and positioning of the mitotic spindle in human cells. oMAP4 is predominantly expressed in brain and muscle and has been shown to organise microtubules into antiparallel bundles.
mMAP4 is a muscle-specific isoform.
References
Further reading
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