This gene belongs to the ephrin receptor subfamily of the protein-tyrosine kinase family. EPH and EPH-related receptors have been implicated in mediating developmental events, particularly in the nervous system. Receptors in the EPH subfamily typically have a single kinase domain and an extracellular region containing a Cys-rich domain and 2 fibronectin type III repeats. The ephrin receptors are divided into two groups based on the similarity of their extracellular domain sequences and their affinities for binding ephrin-A and ephrin-B ligands. This gene encodes a protein that binds ephrin-A ligands.[6]
It may be implicated in BRAF mutated melanomas becoming resistant to BRAF-inhibitors and MEK inhibitors.[7] It is also the receptor by which Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) enters host cells; small molecule inhibitors of EphA2 have shown some ability to block KSHV entry into human cells.[8]
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Wilkinson DG (2000). "Eph receptors and ephrins: regulators of guidance and assembly". Int. Rev. Cytol. International Review of Cytology. 196: 177–244. doi:10.1016/S0074-7696(00)96005-4. ISBN 9780123646002. PMID10730216.
Kinch MS, Carles-Kinch K (2003). "Overexpression and functional alterations of the EphA2 tyrosine kinase in cancer". Clin. Exp. Metastasis. 20 (1): 59–68. doi:10.1023/A:1022546620495. PMID12650608. S2CID2472961.
Pandey A, Shao H, Marks RM, Polverini PJ, Dixit VM (1995). "Role of B61, the ligand for the Eck receptor tyrosine kinase, in TNF-alpha-induced angiogenesis". Science. 268 (5210): 567–9. Bibcode:1995Sci...268..567P. doi:10.1126/science.7536959. PMID7536959.
Ruiz JC, Robertson EJ (1994). "The expression of the receptor-protein tyrosine kinase gene, eck, is highly restricted during early mouse development". Mech. Dev. 46 (2): 87–100. doi:10.1016/0925-4773(94)90078-7. PMID7918100. S2CID21419336.
Davis S, Gale NW, Aldrich TH, Maisonpierre PC, Lhotak V, Pawson T, Goldfarb M, Yancopoulos GD (1994). "Ligands for EPH-related receptor tyrosine kinases that require membrane attachment or clustering for activity". Science. 266 (5186): 816–9. Bibcode:1994Sci...266..816D. doi:10.1126/science.7973638. PMID7973638.
Ganju P, Shigemoto K, Brennan J, Entwistle A, Reith AD (1994). "The Eck receptor tyrosine kinase is implicated in pattern formation during gastrulation, hindbrain segmentation and limb development". Oncogene. 9 (6): 1613–24. PMID8183555.
Kozlosky CJ, VandenBos T, Park L, Cerretti DP, Carpenter MK (1997). "LERK-7: a ligand of the Eph-related kinases is developmentally regulated in the brain". Cytokine. 9 (8): 540–9. doi:10.1006/cyto.1997.0199. PMID9245480.