EPHA3

EPHA3

A gene on chromosome 3p11.2 that encodes a member of the ephrin-A receptor subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases, which promiscuously bind membrane-bound ephrin-A family ligands residing on adajcent cells, leading to contact-dependent bidirectional signalling into neighbouring cells. EPHA3 mediates developmental events, especially in the nervous system—once activated by EFNA5, it regulates cell–cell adhesion, cytoskeletal organisation and cell migration. It plays a role in cardiac cell migration and differentiation, and it regulates formation of the atrioventricular canal and septum during development. It is involved in the retinotectal mapping of neurons and may control the segregation—but not the guidance—of motor and sensory axons during neuromuscular circuit development.