EFNB2
Description
The EFNB2 (ephrin B2) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 13.
EFNB2 is a protein encoded by the EFNB2 gene in humans. It belongs to the ephrin (EPH) family, which is the largest subfamily of receptor protein-tyrosine kinases involved in developmental processes, particularly in the nervous system and erythropoiesis. Ephrins are divided into two classes based on structure and sequence: ephrin-A (EFNA), anchored to the membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage, and ephrin-B (EFNB), which are transmembrane proteins. EFNB2 is a member of the EFNB class and binds to the EPHB4 and EPHA3 receptors. EFNB2 has been found to be progressively downregulated in Human papillomavirus-positive neoplastic keratinocytes derived from uterine cervical preneoplastic lesions, suggesting a potential role in tumorigenesis and as a prognostic marker for uterine cervical preneoplastic lesion progression. EFNB2 interacts with EPHA3 and EPHB1 during optic chiasm development. It also acts as a receptor for Hendra Virus and Nipah Virus, mediating viral entry into cells.
EFNB2 is a cell surface transmembrane ligand that interacts with Eph receptors, a family of receptor tyrosine kinases essential for cell migration, repulsion, and adhesion during neuronal, vascular, and epithelial development. EFNB2 binds promiscuously to Eph receptors on adjacent cells, initiating contact-dependent bidirectional signaling. This signaling process involves "forward signaling" downstream of the receptor and "reverse signaling" downstream of the EFNB2 ligand. EFNB2 binds to receptor tyrosine kinases including EPHA4, EPHA3, and EPHB4. In conjunction with EPHB4, EFNB2 plays a critical role in heart morphogenesis and angiogenesis by regulating cell adhesion and migration. Forward signaling mediated by EPHB4 controls cellular repulsion and segregation from EFNB2-expressing cells. EFNB2 may also contribute to regulating the orientation of longitudinally projecting axons.
EFNB2 is also known as EPLG5, HTKL, Htk-L, LERK5, ephrin-B2.
