Anti-EPHA8

This gene encodes a member of the ephrin receptor subfamily of the protein-tyrosine kinase family. EPH and EPH-related receptors 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. The ephrin 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. The protein encoded by this gene functions as a receptor for ephrin A2, A3 and A5 and plays a role in short-range contact-mediated axonal guidance during development of the mammalian nervous system. Protein function: Receptor tyrosine kinase which binds promiscuously GPI- anchored ephrin-A family ligands residing on adjacent cells, leading to contact-dependent bidirectional signaling into neighboring cells. The signaling pathway downstream of the receptor is referred to as forward signaling while the signaling pathway downstream of the ephrin ligand is referred to as reverse signaling. The GPI-anchored ephrin-A EFNA2, EFNA3, and EFNA5 are able to activate EPHA8 through phosphorylation. With EFNA5 may regulate integrin-mediated cell adhesion and migration on fibronectin substrate but also neurite outgrowth. During development of the nervous system also plays a role in axon guidance. Downstream effectors of the EPHA8 signaling pathway include FYN which promotes cell adhesion upon activation by EPHA8 and the MAP kinases in the stimulation of neurite outgrowth. [The UniProt Consortium]