• BMB Reports
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.113-117
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• 2011

Previous studies suggest that EphA7 plays a critical role in neural tube closure or cortical progenitor apoptosis. In this report, enhancer trap assay was used to modify various EphA7 BAC clones and screen a large genomic region spanning 570 kb downstream of the EphA7 gene. We found that the dorsal midline-specific EphA7 enhancer resides on the 457D20 EphA7 BAC clone and is localized to a 35 kb genomic region in between +345.7 kb to +379.8 kb downstream of the EphA7 transcription start site. Identification of the EphA7 BAC clone containing a long-range dorsal midline enhancer may constitute a useful tool for investigating the biological functions of EphA7 in vivo.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.349-355
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• 2015

EphA7 has been implicated in the regulation of apoptotic cell death in neural epithelial cells. In this report, we provide evidence that EphA7 interacts with caspase-8 to induce apoptotic cell signaling. First, a pull-down assay using biotinylated ephrinA5-Fc showed that EphA7 co-precipitated with wild type caspase-8 or catalytically inactive caspase-8 mutant. Second, co-transfection of EphA7 with caspase-8 significantly increased the number of cleaved caspase-3 positive apoptotic cells under an experimental condition where transfection of EphA7 or caspase-8 alone did not affect cell viability or apoptosis. EphA4 also had a causative role in inducing apoptotic cell death with caspase-8, whereas EphA8 did not. Third, caspase-8 catalytic activity was essential for the apoptotic signaling cascade, whereas tyrosine kinase activity of the EphA4 receptor was not. Interestingly, we found that kinase-inactive EphA4 was well co-localized at the plasma membrane with catalytically inactive caspase-8, suggesting that an interaction between these mutant proteins was more stable. Finally, we observed that the extracellular region of the EphA7 receptor was critical for interacting with caspase-8, whereas the cytoplasmic region of EphA7 was not. Therefore, we propose that Eph receptors physically associate with a transmembrane protein to form an apoptotic signaling complex and that this unidentified receptor-like protein acts as a biochemical linker between the Eph receptor and caspase-8.

• BMB Reports
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.656-661
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• 2007

In this report, we describe an optimized method for generation of ephA8 BAC transgenic mice expressing the lacZ reporter gene under ephA8 regulatory sequences. First, we constructed a targeting vector that carries a 1.2 kb ephA8 DNA upstream of its first exon, a lacZ expression cassette, a kanamycin cassette, and a 0.7 kb ephA8 DNA downstream of its first exon. Second, the targeting vector was electroporated into cells containing the ephA8 BAC and pKOBEGA, in which recombinases induce a homologous recombination between the ephA8 BAC DNA and the targeting vector. Third, the FLP plasmid expressing the Flipase was electroporated into these bacteria to eliminate a kanamycin cassette from the recombinant BAC DNA. The appropriate structures of the modified ephA8 BAC DNA were confirmed by Southern analysis. Finally, BAC transgenic mouse embryos were generated by pronuclear injection of the recombinant BAC DNA. Whole mount X-gal staining revealed that the lacZ reporter expression is restricted to the anterior region of the developing midbrain in each transgenic embryo. These results indicate that the ephA8 BAC DNA contains most, if not all, regulatory sequences to direct temporal and spatial expression of the lacZ gene in vivo.

• BMB Reports
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.288-293
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• 2003

Low molecular weight phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase (LMW-PTP) has been implicated in modulating the EphB1-mediated signaling pathway. In this study, we demonstrated that the EphA8 receptor phosphorylates LMW-PTP in vitro. In addition, we discovered that mixing these two proteins leads to EphA8 dephosphorylation in the absence of phosphatase inhibitors. Finally, we demonstrated that LMW-PTP, modified by the EphA8 autokinase activity, possesses enhanced catalytic activity in vitro. These results suggest that LMW-PTP may also participate in a feedback-control mechanism of the EphA8 receptor autokinase activity in vivo.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.30.1-30.13
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• 2023

Ephs belong to the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinase and are highly conserved both sequentially and structurally. The structural organization of Eph is similar to other receptor tyrosine kinases; constituting the extracellular ligand binding domain, a fibronectin domain followed by intracellular juxtamembrane kinase, and SAM domain. Eph binds to respective ephrin ligand, through the ligand binding domain and forms a tetrameric complex to activate the kinase domain. Eph-ephrin regulates many downstream pathways that lead to physiological events such as cell migration, proliferation, and growth. Therefore, considering the importance of Eph-ephrin class of protein in tumorigenesis, 7,620 clinically reported missense mutations belonging to the class of variables of unknown significance were retrieved from cBioPortal and evaluated for pathogenicity. Thirty-two mutations predicted to be pathogenic using SIFT, Polyphen-2, PROVEAN, SNPs&GO, PMut, iSTABLE, and PremPS in-silico tools were found located either in critical functional regions or encompassing interactions at the binding interface of Eph-ephrin. However, seven were reported in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Considering the relevance of receptor tyrosine kinases and Eph in NSCLC, these seven mutations were assessed for change in the folding pattern using molecular dynamic simulation. Structural alterations, stability, flexibility, compactness, and solvent-exposed area was observed in EphA3 Trp790Cys, EphA7 Leu749Phe, EphB1 Gly685Cys, EphB4 Val748Ala, and Ephrin A2 Trp112Cys. Hence, it can be concluded that the evaluated mutations have potential to alter the folding pattern and thus can be further validated by in-vitro, structural and in-vivo studies for clinical management.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권11호
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• pp.1007-1012
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• 2015

EphA7 is a key molecule in regulating the development of the dien- and mesencephalon. To get insight into the mechanism of how EphA7 gene expression is regulated during the dorsal specification of the dien- and mesencephalon, we investigated the cis-acting regulatory sequence driving EphA7 to the dorsal midline of the dien- and mesencephalon. Transgenic LacZ reporter analysis, using overlapping EphA7 BACs, was used to narrow down the dorsal midline-specific enhancer, revealing the 25.3 kb genomic region as the enhancer candidate. Strikingly, this genomic DNA was located far downstream of the EphA7 transcription start site, +302.6 kb to +327.9 kb. Further enhancer mapping, using comparative genomic analysis and transgenic methods, showed that the 187 bp genomic DNA alone, approximately 305 kb downstream of the EphA7 transcription start site, was sufficient to act as the dorsal midline-specific enhancer of EphA7. Importantly, our results indicate that the 187 bp dorsal midline-specific enhancer is critically regulated by homeobox transcription factors during the development of the dien- and mesencephalon.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.57-63
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• 2004

This study provides evidence that expression of EphA8 receptor in NG108-15 cells results in a substantial increase in the number of neurite-bearing cells. However, the EphA8-induced neurite outgrowth does not require either ephrin-A5 stimulation or ectopic expression of $p110{\gamma}$ PI-3 kinase. In contrast, co-expression of a lipid kinase-inactive $p110{\gamma}$ mutant together with EphA8 causes neurite retraction in the presence of ephrin-A5 stimulation. This effect was not observed in the absence of ephrin-A5 stimulation. Significantly, the tyrosine kinase activity of EphA8 is not important for either of these processes. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that $p110{\gamma}$ PI-3 kinase is critically involved in the regulatory process by which ephrin-A5 exerts effects on the EphA8-induced neurite outgrowth.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.25-30
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• 2006

목적: EphB2 수용체는 티로신 키나제 수용체 군에 속하면서 Wnt 신호 전달계의 대상 유전자로 세포의 성장 및 이동을 조절함으로써 종양의 발생과 진행을 억제한다. 연구자들은 한국인 위암에서 EphB2 단백의 발현 변화가 위암의 발생 및 진행에 관여하는지와 위암의 병리 지표들과의 연관성을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 83예의 파라핀 포매된 위암조직에서 암세포들을 각각 3군데에서 펀치하여 새로운 파라핀 블록으로 옳겨 위암의 고집적 tissue microarray를 제작하였다. Tissue microarray 절편에서 EphB2 단백에 대한 항체로 면역조직화 학염색을 실시한 후 그 발현 양상을 병리 지표들인 조직학적 분류, 침습 정도, 림프절 전이 및 복막 파종과의 연관성을 조사하였다. 결과: EphB2 단백은 정상 위 점막 상피세포의 세포막과 세포질에서 발현되고 있었고 조사된 83예의 위암 중 30예 (36.1%)에서 발현이 소실되었다. 흥미롭게도 EphB2 단백의 발현 소실은 위암의 림프절 전이와 통계적으로 연관성이 있었으나 조직학적 분류, 침습 정도 및 복막 파종과는 연관성이 없었다. 결론: 이러한 소견들은 EphB2 수용체 단백의 발현 소실이 위암의 발생 및 진행에 있어 중요한 과정 중의 하나임을 의미한다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제78권3호
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• pp.218-226
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• 2015

Background: Eph receptors and ephrin ligands have several functions including angiogenesis, cell migration, axon guidance, fluid homeostasis, oncogenesis, inflammation and injury repair. The EphA2 receptor potentially mediates the regulation of vascular permeability and inflammation in response to lung injury. Methods: Mice were divided into 3 experimental groups to study the role of EphA2 signaling in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury model i.e., IgG+phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group (IgG instillation before PBS exposure), IgG+LPS group (IgG instillation before LPS exposure) and EphA2 monoclonal antibody (mAb)+LPS group (EphA2 mAb pretreatment before LPS exposure). Results: EphA2 and ephrinA1 were upregulated in LPS-induced lung injury. The lung injury score of the EphA2 mAb+LPS group was lower than that of the IgG+LPS group ($4.30{\pm}2.93$ vs. $11.45{\pm}1.20$, respectively; p=0.004). Cell counts (EphA2 mAb+LPS: $11.33{\times}10^4{\pm}8.84{\times}10^4$ vs. IgG+LPS: $208.0{\times}10^4{\pm}122.6{\times}10^4$; p=0.018) and total protein concentrations (EphA2 mAb+LPS: $0.52{\pm}0.41mg/mL$ vs. IgG+LPS: $1.38{\pm}1.08mg/mL$; p=0.192) were decreased in EphA2 mAb+LPS group, as compared to the IgG+LPS group. In addition, EphA2 antagonism reduced the expression of phospho-p85, phosphoinositide 3-kinase $110{\gamma}$, phospho-Akt, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$, and proinflammatory cytokines. Conclusion: This results of the study indicated a role for EphA2-ephrinA1 signaling in the pathogenesis of LPS-induced lung injury. Furthermore, EphA2 antagonism inhibits the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt pathway and attenuates inflammation.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.9-15
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• 2009

Eph receptors and their ephrin ligands have been implicated in a variety of cellular processes such as cellular morphogenesis and motility. Our previous studies demonstrated that Odin, one of the Anks family proteins, functions as a scaffolding protein of the EphA8 signaling pathway leading to modulation of cell migration or axonal outgrowth. Here we show that WDR7 is associated with Odin and that it is possibly implicated in the EphA8 signaling pathway. WD40 repeats present in the COOH-terminal region of WDR7 appear to be crucial for its association with Odin, whereas the binding motif of Odin is located in between ankyrin repeats and PTB domain. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that association of WDR7 with Odin is enhanced by ephrin ligand treatment, possibly through forming large protein complexes including both EphA8 and ephrin-A5. Consistently, immunofluorescence staining experiments suggested that WDR7 constitute a component of the large protein complexes containing Odin, EphA8 and ephrin-A5. Taken together, our results suggest the WDR7-Odin complexes might be involved in the signaling pathway downstream of the EphA8 receptor.