Background information
Emp is a 396 amino acid ubiquitously expressed adhesion protein. Expressed as 5 alternatively spliced isoforms, Emp contains one CTLH domain and one LisH domain. Emp can form a complex with F-actin, which is involved regulating actin distribution in erythroblasts and macrophages. Considered to assist with cell division and nuclear architecture, Emp is localized with condensed chromatin at prophase, nuclear spindle poles at metaphase and in the contractile ring during telophase and cytokinesis. Although the exact function of Emp is unknown, Emp is suggested to be involvement in erythroblast-macrophage cell attachment, terminal maturation and enucleation of erythroid cells, and inhibiting apoptosis of erythroblasts.
