Description
EphA3, also known as Cek4, Mek4, Hek, Tyro4, and Hek4, is a 135 kDa glycosylated member of the transmembrane Eph receptor tyrosine kinase family. EphA3 is expressed in the developing forebrain, retinal axons, some spinal cord motor neurons, and the heart where it plays an important role in axonal repulsion and organ morphogenesis. It is upregulated on some hematopoietic and solid tumor cells and on astrocytes surrounding injured nervous tissue . EphA3 ligation inhibits cellular adhesion to fibronectin as well as cellular migration. Transmembrane EphA3 associates in cis with ADAM10 which then promotes the cleavage in trans of Ephrin-A5. It also associates in cis with Ephrin-A5 on retinal axons, thereby preventing the activation of EphA3 by Ephrin-A.