EphA6 is an erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular (Eph) receptor that belongs to the tyrosine kinase receptor family. The Eph receptor family consists of 9 EphA receptors and 5 EphB receptors, which serve key roles in normal physiology, including cell migration, cell adhesion, cell proliferation and neuronal synaptic plasticity. These activities depend on the binding of their Eph receptor-interacting (ephrin) proteins, of which include 8 members. Compelling data has demonstrated that Eph receptors and ephrins affect tumor growth, invasiveness, angiogenesis and metastasis¹. They are also involved in brain development, learning and memory².

EphA6 signaling pathways are inhibitory for developing axons and blocking these pathways enhances regeneration following spinal cord and brain injury; rendering EphA6 an appealing drug target³.

Eph receptors contain an extracellular structure consisting of an ephrin binding domain, the juxtamembrane region connects the extracellular portion of the receptor to the intracellular kinase domain. Two Tyrosine residues on the juxtamembrane region mediate autophosphorylation and receptor dimerization mediates the formation of heterocomplexes that are required for signaling⁴.