Abstract
Eph receptors, the largest subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), and their ephrin ligands are important mediators of cell–cell communication regulating cell attachment, shape, and mobility. Eph signaling is crucial for the development of many tissues and organs including the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Both Ephs and ephrins are membrane-bound and their interactions at sites of cell–cell contact initiate unique bi-directional signaling cascades where information is transduced in both the receptor- and the ligand-expressing cells. Recent studies summarized in this review reveal how the signaling process is triggered upon ligand–receptor binding via the formation of a 2:2 circular heterotetramer. This fixes the orientation of the participating molecules and facilitates phosphorylation of their cytoplasmic domains which then interact with downstream signaling factors. The elucidation of the structural details of Eph–ephrin recognition and binding should yield insight into the future development of novel therapeutic agents targeting cardiovascular function, nerve regeneration, and cancer.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
