摘要: This chapter summarizes current knowledge on Eph and ephrin signaling makes reference to recent reviews summarizing the relevant biology. receptors represent largest known family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are activated by interaction with cell-surface ligands, termed ephrins, presented neighboring cells. The physiological roles Ephs ephrins range from early embryonic developmental processes such as cell migration establishment compartment boundaries in adult brain, regulation neuronal plasticity. At cellular level, guide migrating cells navigating axonal growth cones repulsion; that is, they induce, via signaling, local collapse processes, thereby redirecting growth. In other may regulate adhesion de-adhesion influence behavior. A peculiarity this ligand-receptor system is signals transduced not only (referred forward signaling), but also ligand reverse signaling). Components pathways downstream have been characterized correlated biological functions.