The EPH and EPH-related receptors comprise the largest subfamily of receptor
protein-tyrosine kinases. They have been implicated in mediating developmental
events, particularly in the nervous system. Receptors in the Eph subfamily typically
have a single kinase domain and an extracellular region containing a Cys-rich domain
and 2 fibronectin type III repeats
NCBI Summary:
Ephrin receptors and their ligands, the ephrins, mediate numerous developmental processes, particularly in the nervous system. Based on their structures and sequence relationships, ephrins are divided into the ephrin-A (EFNA) class, which are anchored to the membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage, and the ephrin-B (EFNB) class, which are transmembrane proteins. The Eph family of receptors are divided into 2 groups based on the similarity of their extracellular domain sequences and their affinities for binding ephrin-A and ephrin-B ligands. Ephrin receptors make up the largest subgroup of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. The protein encoded by this gene is a receptor for ephrin-B family members.
General function
Receptor
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Cellular localization
Plasma membrane
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Ovarian function
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Expression regulated by
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Ovarian localization
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In order to study the function of tyrosine kinase receptors during Xenopus development, Jones et al. (1995) have isolated Xek (Xenopus
Elk-like kinase), a tyrosine kinase receptor, which shows significant homology to rat Elk and chicken cek5, members of the Eph family. Xek exists as a maternally expressed mRNA which decreases in expression at the mid blastula transition and reappears at late neurulation in Xenopus. Xek mRNA is expressed at higher levels in the anterior and dorsal regions of embryonic stages 16, 24 and 37. In adult Xenopus tissues, Xek appears to be ubiquitously expressed with higher expression
observed in brain and ovary.