Structural and Functional Insights into the Transmembrane Domain Association of Eph Receptors

Eph receptors are the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases and by interactions with ephrin ligands mediate a myriad of processes from embryonic development to adult tissue homeostasis. The interaction of Eph receptors, especially at their transmembrane (TM) domains is key to understanding their mechanism of signal transduction across cellular membranes. We review the structural and functional aspects of EphA1/A2 association and the techniques used to investigate their TM domains: NMR, molecular modelling/dynamics simulations and fluorescence. We also introduce transmembrane peptides, which can be used to alter Eph receptor signaling and we provide a perspective for future studies.

Automated summary

This review focuses on the interaction between Eph receptors and ephrin ligands in regulating various processes from embryonic development to tissue homeostasis. It also highlights the importance of the transmembrane domain of Eph receptors in signal transduction and introduces techniques such as NMR and molecular modeling used to study them. Additionally, the use of transmembrane peptides to manipulate Eph receptor signaling is discussed, along with future directions for research in this field.