Review Article

The Membrane Associated RING-CH Proteins: A Family of E3 Ligases with Diverse Roles through the Cell

Table 2

Summary of the key features of each MARCH protein and its experimentally validated targets.

ProteinNumber of TMsOther structural featuresFunctionExperimentally validated targetsTissues/cells/compartments it is highly expressed inRegulated byKey references

MARCH12Tyrosine based intracellular sorting motif; tyrosine based endosomal sorting motif (YXXΦ); di-leucine based endosomal sorting motif C-terminal PDZ-binding domainRegulator of antigen presentation; regulator of lymphocyte developmentCD95 (Fas), TfR, HLA-DR, -DM, -DO; B7.2, CD98Immature DCs, B cells, monocytesIL-10, CD83, Tollip[6, 43, 44, 4650, 5557]

MARCH22Tyrosine based motif (YXXΦ); C-terminal PDZ-binding domainRegulator of cell polarity; regulator of GCPRs signaling; modulator of intracellular trafficking of proteinsTfR, B7.2, BLG1, β2-adrenergic receptor, SX6, CALHeart[31, 36, 63, 64, 66]

MARCH32Tyrosine based motif (YXXΦ); C-terminal PDZ-binding domainModulator of intracellular trafficking of proteinsBap31, SX6Lung, colon, spleen[31, 35, 37, 65]

MARCH42Tyrosine based motif (YXXΦ); C-terminal PDZ-binding domainModulator of NK cell targeting; regulator of the development of the immune systemBap31, MHC I, HLA-2.1, CD4, ALCAM, Mult1, SX4, CD81, B7.2Brain, placenta, lungs, pancreas, some Golgi compartments[15, 31, 37, 67]

MARCH5
(MITOL)
4Regulator of mitochondrial morphology; regulator of neuronal cell death when under stress; positive regulator of TLR7 signaling; protects cells from cytotoxicityMFN1, MFN2, Drp1, hFis1, TANK, mSOD1, ΔNAT-3Q71, S-nitrosylated LC1Mitochondrial outer membrane, bronchial epithelial cells, thyroid, B cells[38, 39, 7077]

MARCH6
(TEB4)
14TEB-Doa (TD) domainInvolved in recognition of specific targets for ERAD; associated with Cri-du-chat syndrome; regulator of response to cold temperatures; regulator of cholesterol productionD2, SMER membrane, nuclear envelope; most tissues[40, 41, 80, 81]

MARCH7
(Axot)
0N-terminus has serine/proline rich region; Tyrosine based motif (YXXΦ); RING-CH domain close to the C-terminus; non-classical importin-α nuclear localization signal (SKRPKL)Confers stem cell properties; role in neuronal development; regulates immune toleranceMouse embryonic, neural and hematopoietic stem cells, human epithelial cells, human trophoblasts; rat testis; nucleus[83, 8588]

MARCH8
(c-MIR)
2Tyrosine based motif (YXXΦ); C-terminal PDZ-binding domainRegulator of the inflammatory response; regulator of CD4+ T cell development; regulator of apoptosis; possible restriction factor; Involved in zebrafish and Xenopus laevis embryogenesisMHC I HLA-2.1, MHC II, CD95 (Fas), B7.2, TfR, CD166, CD44, CD88, CD98, IL1RAP, TRAIL-R1, SX4, CD166, Bap31, E-cadherinLung; developing zebrafish embryo; developing Xenopus laevis embryo; early endosomes, late endosomes, cell surface[6, 15, 30, 31, 37, 46, 95, 96, 99103]

MARCH92C-terminal PDZ-binding domain; splice variant that does not contain a RING-CH domainRegulator of the immune response; modulator of NK cell targetingMHC I, HLA-DM, -DQ, -DR, -DO, CD4, ALCAM, ICAM-1, FcγRIIB, SLAM, PTPRJ, ILT-2, Mult1Human placenta; mouse brain; mouse kidneys; B cells, T cells, DCs; trans-Golgi network[31, 37, 67, 104, 106]

MARCH100RING-CH domain close to the C-terminus; Exists as two isoforms due to alternative splicingRegulator of spermatogenesisHuman testicular germ cells; developing rat spermatids[68, 108]

MARCH112Tyrosine based motif (YXXΦ); RING-CH domain close to the C-terminus; N-terminal proline rich regionInvolved in rat spermatogenesis; involved in the ubiquitin-dependent protein-sorting pathwayCD4, SAMT1Rat testis; TGN, MVBs[32, 109]

TMs: transmembranes; TfR: transferrin receptor; DCs: dendritic cells; GCPRs: G-coupled proteins receptors; SX6: syntaxin 6; CAL: CFTF-associated ligand; ERAD: ER-associated degradation; D2: thyroid hormone activating type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase; SM: mammalian homolog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Erg1; IL1RAP: IL-1 receptor accessory protein; TRAIL-R1: TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand receptor 1; TGN: trans-Golgi network; MVBs: multivesicular bodies.