Microtubule-Associated Protein, RP/EB Family, Member 3 (MAPRE3), also known as End-Binding Protein 3 (EB3), is a protein encoded by the MAPRE3 gene in humans. This protein is a member of the RP/EB family, which plays a crucial role in the regulation of microtubule dynamics. Microtubules are essential components of the cytoskeleton, involved in various cellular processes such as cell division, intracellular transport, and maintenance of cell shape.
MAPRE3 was first identified due to its association with the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) protein, a tumor suppressor often mutated in colorectal cancer . The protein localizes to the cytoplasmic microtubule network and binds to the plus-end of microtubules, regulating their dynamics . It promotes microtubule growth and is involved in spindle function by stabilizing microtubules and anchoring them at centrosomes .
During interphase, MAPRE3 is associated with the growing ends of microtubules, while during mitosis, it is found at the centrosomes and spindle microtubules . This localization suggests its involvement in the regulation of microtubule structures and chromosome stability. MAPRE3 also interacts with components of the dynactin complex and the intermediate chain of cytoplasmic dynein, indicating its role in intracellular transport .
Mutations or dysregulation of MAPRE3 have been linked to various diseases, including dyskeratosis congenita and signet ring cell adenocarcinoma . Its association with the APC protein also implicates it in colorectal cancer. Understanding the function and regulation of MAPRE3 is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies for these conditions.