EPHB4 Human Cellexp Active Protein

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 binds to ephrin-B2 and plays an essential role in vascular development. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

EphB4: Receptor tyrosine kinase which binds promiscuously transmembrane ephrin-B 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. Together with its cognate ligand/functional ligand EFNB2 plays a central role in heart morphogenesis and angiogenesis through regulation of cell adhesion and cell migration. EPHB4- mediated forward signaling controls cellular repulsion and segregation form EFNB2-expressing cells. Plays also a role in postnatal blood vessel remodeling, morphogenesis and permeability and is thus important in the context of tumor angiogenesis. Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. Tyr protein kinase family. Ephrin receptor subfamily.

Protein type: Protein kinase, TK; Kinase, protein; EC 2.7.10.1; Protein kinase, tyrosine (receptor); Membrane protein, integral; TK group; Eph family

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 7q22

Cellular Component: integral to plasma membrane; extracellular region; plasma membrane; cytosol

Molecular Function: protein binding; ephrin receptor activity; transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase activity; ATP binding

Biological Process: heart morphogenesis; axon guidance; peptidyl-tyrosine phosphorylation; cell migration during sprouting angiogenesis; protein amino acid autophosphorylation; ephrin receptor signaling pathway; angiogenesis; cell adhesion