Background: MAP7 was first identified in HeLa cells as E-MAP-115. It is predominantly expressed in cells of epithelial origin and proposed to function as a stabilizer of microtubules important for regulating cell polarization. Disruption of the MAP7 gene has been associated with cases of sacral dysgenesis, however MAP7 knockout mice do not display the associated phenotype. In mice it has been shown to be important to sperm cell development.