Scientific background: |
Ephrin Receptor EphA3, is also known as human embryo kinase (HEK) or Eph-like tyrosine kinase1(ETK1) . Kinases that phosphorylate proteins on tyrosine residues (protein tyrosine kinases; PTKs), such as EPHA3, form a structurally related group of molecules that exhibit functional diversity. Genetic alterations that lead to the inappropriate activation or expression of PTKs may be oncogenic. Many growth factor receptors are PTKs, e.g., the receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGFR), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGFR1;PDGFR2), colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF1R; ), and stem cell growth factor . The EPHA3 gene is mapped to 3p11.2. Sequence comparison with other PTKs showed a high degree of homology with members of the EPH and ELK (EPHB1) families of receptor tyrosine kinases. Within axial nerves, establishment of discrete afferent and efferent pathways depends on coordinate signaling between coextending sensory and motor projections. |
References: |
1.Wicks, I. P., Lapsys, N. M., Baker, E., Campbell, L. J., Boyd, A. W., Sutherland, G. R.Localization of a human receptor tyrosine kinase (ETK1) to chromosome region 3p11.2.Genomics 19: 38-41, 1994.
2.Gallarda, B. W., Bonanomi, D., Mueller, D., Brown, A., Alaynick, W. A., Andrews S. E., Lemke, G., Pfaff, S. L., Marquardt, T.Segregation of axial motor and sensory pathways via heterotypic trans-axonal signaling.Science 320: 233-236, 2008.
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