EPHA7
EPHA7 (EPH receptor A7, also known as Hek11 and previously named EphA7) is a cell-surface receptor tyrosine kinase of the ephrin receptor subfamily. It binds GPI-anchored ephrin-A ligands on adjacent cells and signals during nervous system development. Browse Assay Genie's current range of EPHA7 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
EPHA7 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that binds, with little selectivity, GPI-anchored ephrin-A family ligands presented on neighbouring cells. This contact-dependent interaction drives bidirectional signalling: forward signalling operates downstream of the receptor, while reverse signalling operates downstream of the ephrin ligand. Among the ephrin-A ligands, EFNA5 is the cognate, functional ligand for EPHA7, and their interaction regulates brain development by modulating cell-cell adhesion and repulsion.
EPHA7 has a repellent activity on axons. It is involved, for example, in the guidance of corticothalamic axons and in the correct topographic mapping of retinal axons to the colliculus. It may also influence brain development through a caspase-dependent (CASP3) proapoptotic activity. Forward signalling may activate components of the ERK pathway, and MAP2K1, MAP2K2, MAPK1 and MAPK3 are phosphorylated when EPHA7 is activated.
The EPHA7 gene belongs to the protein kinase superfamily, Tyr protein kinase family, ephrin receptor subfamily. Receptors of this subfamily typically have a single kinase domain and an extracellular region containing a Cys-rich domain and two fibronectin type III repeats. The ephrin receptors fall into two groups according to extracellular domain similarity and their affinity for ephrin-A or ephrin-B ligands. HGNC places EPHA7 in the EPH receptor group and the sterile alpha motif domain containing group. Increased EPHA7 expression is associated with multiple forms of carcinoma, and alternative splicing produces multiple transcript variants. Mouse and rat orthologs are both named Epha7.
EPHA7 and EFNA5 interactions regulate brain development through cell-cell adhesion and repulsion, making the receptor relevant to developmental neurobiology.
EPHA7 repels axons and contributes to corticothalamic axon guidance and the topographic mapping of retinal axons to the colliculus.
Increased EPHA7 expression is associated with multiple forms of carcinoma, so the receptor is studied in tumour-related contexts.
Forward signalling can lead to phosphorylation of MAP2K1, MAP2K2, MAPK1 and MAPK3, linking EPHA7 to ERK pathway analysis.
EPHA7 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that binds ephrin-A ligands on adjacent cells and signals in both directions. It has a repellent activity on axons, helps guide corticothalamic and retinal axons, and may contribute to caspase-dependent proapoptotic signalling during brain development.
The HGNC name is EPH receptor A7, and UniProt calls the protein ephrin type-A receptor 7. Hek11 is a listed alias and EphA7 is a previous name. Alternative splicing of the EPHA7 gene gives rise to multiple transcript variants.
Increased EPHA7 expression is associated with multiple forms of carcinoma. Orthologs are annotated in mouse and rat, both named Epha7. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other EPH receptor A family members and related ephrin receptor tyrosine kinases with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q15375; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.