EphrinB2
EphrinB2 (ephrin-B2, encoded by EFNB2) is a transmembrane member of the ephrin family that binds EPH-related receptor tyrosine kinases. It is also known as LERK5, Htk-L, HTKL and EPLG5, and it acts as a receptor for Hendra virus and Nipah virus. Browse Assay Genie's current range of EphrinB2 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
EphrinB2 is a member of the ephrin family, the ligands for EPH-related receptors. The ephrins and EPH-related receptors make up the largest subfamily of receptor protein-tyrosine kinases. They have been implicated in mediating developmental events, especially in the nervous system and in erythropoiesis. EphrinB2 binds the EPHB4 and EPHA3 receptors. Researchers studying ephrin-B2 signalling therefore often work on ligand-receptor interactions at the cell surface.
Ephrins are divided into two classes based on their structures and sequence relationships. The ephrin-A (EFNA) class is anchored to the membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage. The ephrin-B (EFNB) class, which includes ephrin-B2, consists of transmembrane proteins. UniProt places ephrin-B2 at the cell membrane and at adherens junctions, in line with a role in contact-dependent communication between cells. The EFNB2 gene sits alongside EFNB1 and EFNB3 in the ephrin-B class, and the mouse ortholog is Efnb2.
Beyond its developmental role, ephrin-B2 is annotated as a receptor for two henipaviruses, Hendra virus and Nipah virus. This makes the EFNB2 gene and its protein relevant to virology as well as to developmental and cell biology. The protein has also been described under the names LERK5, Htk-L (HTKL) and EPLG5, which you may meet in older literature. The HGNC gene group for the protein is Ephrins.
Ephrins and EPH-related receptors mediate developmental events, so ephrin-B2 is studied in embryonic patterning and tissue organisation.
Ephrin signalling has been implicated in nervous system development, making ephrin-B2 a target for work on neural circuit formation.
The ephrin and EPH receptor family has been linked to erythropoiesis, an area where ephrin-B2 is investigated.
Ephrin-B2 acts as a receptor for Hendra virus and Nipah virus, supporting studies of henipavirus host-cell entry.
EphrinB2 is a transmembrane ephrin-B class ligand that binds the EPHB4 and EPHA3 receptors. Ephrin and EPH signalling is implicated in developmental events, especially in the nervous system and in erythropoiesis. Ephrin-B2 also serves as a receptor for Hendra virus and Nipah virus.
The gene is EFNB2, and HGNC lists the name as ephrin B2. Aliases and earlier symbols include LERK5, Htk-L, HTKL, EPLG5, MGC126226, MGC126227 and MGC126228. UniProt names the protein Ephrin-B2. Check any product's datasheet for the name it uses.
Ephrins fall into two classes. Ephrin-A proteins are anchored by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage, while ephrin-B proteins such as ephrin-B2 are transmembrane. The mouse ortholog is Efnb2. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other ephrin-B class ligands from the same family, studied alongside ephrin-B2 in developmental and cell signalling research.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P52799; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.