This gene belongs to 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 two groups based on the similarity of their extracellular domain sequences and their affinities for binding ephrin-A and ephrin-B ligands. This gene encodes a protein that binds ephrin-A ligands.[2]
Clinical significance
It may be implicated in BRAF mutated melanomas becoming resistant to BRAF-inhibitors and MEK inhibitors.[3] It is also the receptor by which Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) enters host cells; small molecule inhibitors of EphA2 have shown some ability to block KSHV entry into human cells.[4]
↑Sulman EP, Tang XX, Allen C, Biegel JA, Pleasure DE, Brodeur GM, Ikegaki N (April 1997). "ECK, a human EPH-related gene, maps to 1p36.1, a common region of alteration in human cancers". Genomics. 40 (2): 371–4. doi:10.1006/geno.1996.4569. PMID9119409.
↑Kikawa KD, Vidale DR, Van Etten RL, Kinch MS (October 2002). "Regulation of the EphA2 kinase by the low molecular weight tyrosine phosphatase induces transformation". J. Biol. Chem. 277 (42): 39274–9. doi:10.1074/jbc.M207127200. PMID12167657.
↑ 6.06.1Pratt RL, Kinch MS (October 2002). "Activation of the EphA2 tyrosine kinase stimulates the MAP/ERK kinase signaling cascade". Oncogene. 21 (50): 7690–9. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1205758. PMID12400011.
↑Pandey A, Lazar DF, Saltiel AR, Dixit VM (December 1994). "Activation of the Eck receptor protein tyrosine kinase stimulates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity". J. Biol. Chem. 269 (48): 30154–7. PMID7982920.
Wilkinson DG (2001). "Multiple roles of EPH receptors and ephrins in neural development". Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 2 (3): 155–64. doi:10.1038/35058515. PMID11256076.
Kinch MS, Carles-Kinch K (2003). "Overexpression and functional alterations of the EphA2 tyrosine kinase in cancer". Clin. Exp. Metastasis. 20 (1): 59–68. doi:10.1023/A:1022546620495. PMID12650608.
Pandey A, Shao H, Marks RM, Polverini PJ, Dixit VM (1995). "Role of B61, the ligand for the Eck receptor tyrosine kinase, in TNF-alpha-induced angiogenesis". Science. 268 (5210): 567–9. doi:10.1126/science.7536959. PMID7536959.
Pandey A, Duan H, Dixit VM (1995). "Characterization of a novel Src-like adapter protein that associates with the Eck receptor tyrosine kinase". J. Biol. Chem. 270 (33): 19201–4. doi:10.1074/jbc.270.33.19201. PMID7543898.
Ruiz JC, Robertson EJ (1994). "The expression of the receptor-protein tyrosine kinase gene, eck, is highly restricted during early mouse development". Mech. Dev. 46 (2): 87–100. doi:10.1016/0925-4773(94)90078-7. PMID7918100.
Davis S, Gale NW, Aldrich TH, Maisonpierre PC, Lhotak V, Pawson T, Goldfarb M, Yancopoulos GD (1994). "Ligands for EPH-related receptor tyrosine kinases that require membrane attachment or clustering for activity". Science. 266 (5186): 816–9. doi:10.1126/science.7973638. PMID7973638.
Pandey A, Lazar DF, Saltiel AR, Dixit VM (1994). "Activation of the Eck receptor protein tyrosine kinase stimulates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity". J. Biol. Chem. 269 (48): 30154–7. PMID7982920.
Ganju P, Shigemoto K, Brennan J, Entwistle A, Reith AD (1994). "The Eck receptor tyrosine kinase is implicated in pattern formation during gastrulation, hindbrain segmentation and limb development". Oncogene. 9 (6): 1613–24. PMID8183555.
Gale NW, Holland SJ, Valenzuela DM, Flenniken A, Pan L, Ryan TE, Henkemeyer M, Strebhardt K, Hirai H, Wilkinson DG, Pawson T, Davis S, Yancopoulos GD (1996). "Eph receptors and ligands comprise two major specificity subclasses and are reciprocally compartmentalized during embryogenesis". Neuron. 17 (1): 9–19. doi:10.1016/S0896-6273(00)80276-7. PMID8755474.
Kozlosky CJ, VandenBos T, Park L, Cerretti DP, Carpenter MK (1997). "LERK-7: a ligand of the Eph-related kinases is developmentally regulated in the brain". Cytokine. 9 (8): 540–9. doi:10.1006/cyto.1997.0199. PMID9245480.
Ephnomenclaturecommittee (1997). "Unified nomenclature for Eph family receptors and their ligands, the ephrins. Eph Nomenclature Committee". Cell. 90 (3): 403–4. doi:10.1016/S0092-8674(00)80500-0. PMID9267020.
