Ephrin A2

Ephrin-A2 (EFNA2) is a GPI-anchored A-class ephrin that engages multiple EphA receptors, including EphA3, EphA4, EphA5 and EphA7. It is best known for topographic mapping of the retina onto the superior colliculus, where graded expression along the nasal-temporal axis helps position retinal ganglion cell axons. In hippocampus and cortex, ephrin-A2 regulates axon guidance, dendritic spine morphology and synaptic plasticity, acting in part through reverse signaling into the ligand-expressing cell. Ephrin-A2 also influences neural crest cell migration and has been implicated in tumor angiogenesis. Recombinant ephrin-A2 is commonly used as a clustering-competent ligand to activate EphA receptors in binding and signaling studies.