Component of the ESCRT-I complex, a regulator of vesicular trafficking process. Binds to ubiquitinated cargo proteins and is required for the sorting of endocytic ubiquitinated cargos into multivesicular bodies (MVBs). Mediates the association between the ESCRT-0 and ESCRT-I complex. Required for completion of cytokinesis; the function requires CEP55. May be involved in cell growth and differentiation. Acts as a negative growth regulator. Involved in the budding of many viruses through an interaction with viral proteins that contain a late-budding motif P-[ST]-A-P. This interaction is essential for viral particle budding of numerous retroviruses. Required for the exosomal release of SDCBP, CD63 and syndecan . It may also play a role in the extracellular release of microvesicles that differ from the exosomes .
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Early endosome membrane, Late endosome membrane, Cytoplasm, Cytoskeleton, Microtubule organizing center, Centrosome, Midbody, Midbody ring, Nucleus
Mainly cytoplasmic. Membrane-associated when active and soluble when inactive. Nuclear localization is cell cycle-dependent. Interaction with CEP55 is required for localization to the midbody during cytokinesis.
Heart, brain, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal, kidney and pancreas.