EEA1 is aRAB5Aeffector protein which binds via an N-terminalzinc fingerdomain and is required for fusion of early and late endosomes and for sorting at the early endosome level.[5][6]
EEA1 plays a role in endocytosis and is recruited by Rab5-GTP to endosomal membranes.[7]EEA1 may be regulated through monoubiquination, affecting endosome fusion and trafficking.[8]Ubiquitin selective segregase p97 may regulate EEA1's tethering ability, affecting its endosome trafficking and morphplogy.
Due to the proteins importance in vesicular trafficking, a number of intracellular bacteria prevent EEA1 recruitment to the vacuole.Mycobacterium tuberculosisis known to inhibit the recruitment of EEA1 to the phagosomal membrane throughCamKII.[9]Legionella pneumophilaalso prevents EEA1 recruitment through a currently unknown mechanism.[10]The related pathogenLegionella longbeachaerecruits EEA1 and appears to replicate within a modified early endosome.[11]
^Stefan C, Audhya A, Emr SD (January 2010). "Chapter 138 - FYVE Domains in Membrane Trafficking and Cell Signaling". In Bradshaw RA, Dennis EA (eds.).Handbook of Cell Signaling(Second ed.). San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 1111–1121.doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-374145-5.00138-8.ISBN978-0-12-374145-5.