[C.elegansII] bx80sd : fusions among all rays; also head, body and (especially) tail deformities; bx80/+ impenetrant R4 to R3 transformation. [Chow and Emmons 1994; EM]
efn-4 encodes a divergent member of the ephrin family of ligands; efn-4 is required for neuroblast migrations during closure of the ventral gastrulation cleft and subsequent epidermal morphogenesis, possibly functioning independently of EFN-1, EFN-2, EFN-3, and the VAB-1 receptor during morphogenesis; EFN-4 can interact weakly with VAB-1 in vitro; EFN-4 is expressed in neural and epidermal precursors at the 100-cell stage, in head neurons, pharyngeal cells, lateral and tail neurons, and in the ectoderm during epidermal enclosure.
Predicted to enable ephrin receptor binding activity. Involved in several processes, including embryonic morphogenesis; nematode male tail tip morphogenesis; and regulation of axon guidance. Located in axon and neuronal cell body. Expressed in several structures, including CAN; epithelial cell; ganglia; intestinal cell; and somatic nervous system. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in craniofrontonasal syndrome; dysostosis; and stomach cancer. Is an ortholog of human EFNB1 (ephrin B1).