EFNA1
Description
The EFNA1 (ephrin A1) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 1.
EFNA1 is a protein encoded by the EFNA1 gene in humans. It belongs to the ephrin family, which includes proteins implicated in developmental processes, particularly in the nervous system and erythropoiesis. Ephrins are divided into two classes: ephrin-A (EFNA), anchored to the membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage, and ephrin-B (EFNB), which are transmembrane proteins. EFNA1 is an EFNA class ephrin that binds to the EPHA2, EPHA4, EPHA5, EPHA6, and EPHA7 receptors. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified.
EFNA1 is a cell surface ligand that binds to Eph receptors, a family of receptor tyrosine kinases essential for cell migration, repulsion, and adhesion during development. It plays a crucial role in angiogenesis and tumor neovascularization by activating EPHA2, leading to RAC1 GTPase activation, vascular endothelial cell migration, and assembly. EFNA1 exerts anti-oncogenic effects by downregulating EPHA2, which contributes to its internalization and degradation. Furthermore, it negatively regulates glioma tumorigenesis by downregulating both EPHA2 and FAK. EFNA1 also influences neuronal development by inducing the collapse of embryonic neuronal growth cones and regulating dendritic spine morphogenesis.
EFNA1 is also known as B61, ECKLG, EFL1, EPLG1, GMAN, LERK-1, LERK1, TNFAIP4.
