title: Eph/ephrin molecules--a hub for signaling and endocytosis.
abstract: The development, homeostasis, and regeneration of complex organ systems require extensive cell-cell communication to ensure that different cells proliferate, migrate, differentiate, assemble, and function in a coordinated and timely fashion. Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ephrin ligands are critical regulators of cell contact-dependent signaling and patterning. Eph/ephrin binding can lead to very diverse biological readouts such as adhesion versus repulsion, or increased versus decreased motility. Accordingly, depending on cell type and context, a limited and conserved set of receptor-ligand interactions is translated into a large variety of downstream signaling processes. Recent evidence indicates that the endocytosis of Eph/ephrin molecules, together with the internalization of various associated tissue-specific effectors, might be one of the key principles responsible for such highly diverse and adaptable biological roles. Here, we summarize recent insights into Eph/ephrin signaling and endocytosis in three biological systems; i.e., the brain, intestine, and vasculature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Mara E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pitulescu
authors.forename: Ralf H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000254:growth & development; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D036342:Ephrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000502:physiology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D036081:Receptors, Eph Family / Q000378:metabolism*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D036342:Ephrins; D036081:Receptors, Eph Family; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor