Charged multivesicular body protein 4a (CHMP4A)

Probable core component of the endosomal sorting required for transport complex III (ESCRT-III) that is involved in multivesicular bodies (MVBs) formation and sorting of endosomal cargo proteins into MVBs. MVBs include intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) that are generated by invagination and scission from the limiting membrane of the endosome and are delivered to lysosomes allowing degradation of membrane proteins, such as stimulated growth factor receptors, lysosomal enzymes and lipids.

The MVB pathway seems to require the sequential use of ESCRT-O, -I,-II and -III complexes. ESCRT-III proteins mostly dissociate from the invaginating membrane until the ILV is released.