Ephrin-As as receptors in topographic projections.
The Eph family of receptor tyrosine kinases and their 'ligands', the ephrins, have been implicated in a large number of developmental processes, such as boundary formation, cell migration, axon guidance and vasculogenesis. A characteristic of the EphB subclass is that both EphBs and transmembrane-anchored ephrin-Bs function as receptors and as ligands, a phenomenon commonly described as 'bi-directional signalling'. Here we review recent data indicating that EphA receptors and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored ephrin-As can also mediate bi-directional signalling. Moreover, characterization of the expression of ephrin-As on axons of the retinotectal and vomeronasal projections suggests that the EphA subfamily is involved in both repulsive and attractive guidance mechanisms during establishment of neuronal connections.
Knöll
Bernd
B
MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, 4th Floor, New Hunt's House, London, UK.
Drescher
Uwe
U
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D036382:Ephrin-A1; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D036082:Receptor, EphA1; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism
D036382:Ephrin-A1; D011506:Proteins; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D036082:Receptor, EphA1