Background：mRNA-binding protein that plays a key role in self-renewal of erythroid cells in response to glucocorticoids. Specifically binds to the AU-rich element(ARE) in the 3'-UTR of target mRNAs, promoting their deadenylation and degradation(PubMed:14981510). Specifically expressed in burst-forming unit-erythroid(BFU-E) progenitors in response to glucocorticoids and acts as a negative regulator of erythroid cell differentiation: promotes self-renewal of erythroid cells by binding mRNAs that are induced or highly expressed during terminal erythroid differentiation and promotes their degradation, preventing erythroid cell differentiation. Down-regulated during erythroid differentiation from the BFU-E stage, stabilizing mRNAs required for terminal differentiation(By similarity).
