EPHB1
EPHB1 (EPH receptor B1, also known as Hek6 and EPHT2) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that binds transmembrane ephrin-B ligands on adjacent cells. It mediates contact-dependent signalling in neural development, cell migration and adhesion. Browse Assay Genie's current range of EPHB1 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
EPHB1 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that binds transmembrane ephrin-B family ligands promiscuously. Because the ligands sit on neighbouring cells, binding leads to contact-dependent bidirectional signalling: forward signalling runs downstream of the receptor, while reverse signalling runs downstream of the ephrin ligand. Cognate ephrin ligands for this receptor include EFNB1, EFNB2 and EFNB3. On activation by EFNB1 and probably other ephrin-B ligands, EPHB1 activates the MAPK/ERK and JNK signalling cascades, which regulate cell migration and adhesion respectively.
In the developing nervous system, EPHB1 regulates retinal axon guidance, redirecting ipsilaterally projecting ventrotemporal retinal ganglion cell axons at the optic chiasm midline, probably through repulsive interaction with EFNB2. In the adult nervous system, together with EFNB3, it regulates chemotaxis, proliferation and polarity of hippocampal neural progenitors. It also plays a redundant role with other ephrin-B receptors in the development and maturation of dendritic spines and in synapse formation. It may also regulate angiogenesis and targeted cell migration, and it helps maintain the pool of muscle satellite cells by promoting their self-renewal and reducing their activation and differentiation.
The EPHB1 gene encodes a member of the ephrin receptor subfamily of the Tyr protein kinase family, within the protein kinase superfamily. Ephrin receptors make up the largest subgroup of receptor tyrosine kinases, and the Eph family is divided into two groups according to extracellular domain similarity and preference for ephrin-A or ephrin-B ligands. EPHB1 belongs to the ephrin-B-binding group. HGNC lists it with the EPH receptors and sterile alpha motif domain-containing proteins, and the previous name EphB1 is still widely seen. The protein is found at the cell membrane, early endosome membrane and dendrites.
EPHB1 guides retinal ganglion cell axons at the optic chiasm midline, making it a useful target for studying axon pathfinding.
EPHB1 acts with other ephrin-B receptors in dendritic spine maturation and synapse formation.
With EFNB3, EPHB1 regulates chemotaxis, proliferation and polarity of hippocampal neural progenitors in the adult nervous system.
EPHB1 activates MAPK/ERK and JNK cascades to regulate cell migration and adhesion, and may also influence angiogenesis and satellite cell self-renewal.
EPHB1 is a receptor tyrosine kinase for ephrin-B ligands (EFNB1, EFNB2 and EFNB3). It drives bidirectional signalling between contacting cells, guiding retinal axons, supporting dendritic spine and synapse development, and regulating cell migration and adhesion through the MAPK/ERK and JNK cascades.
The HGNC-approved name is EPH receptor B1, and UniProt lists it as ephrin type-B receptor 1. Aliases include Hek6 and EPHT2, and the previous name is EphB1. The protein is classed as an ephrin receptor tyrosine kinase, EC 2.7.10.1.
Yes. Mouse and rat both have an ortholog named Ephb1, so the receptor can be studied in rodent models of nervous system development. Cross-species work should take account of reactivity, so check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other EPH receptor B family members that bind ephrin-B ligands and act in nervous system development.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P54762; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.