Efnb2a, also known as ephrin B2a, belongs to the ephrin family. Members of this family are crucial for migration, repulsion and adhesion during neuronal, vascular and epithelial development. Efnb2a binds promiscuously Eph receptors residing on adjacent cells, leading to contact-dependent bidirectional signaling into neighboring cells. The signaling pathway downstream of the receptor is referred to as forward signaling while the signaling pathway downstream of the ephrin ligand is referred to as reverse signaling. Efnb2a, together with ephb4 may play a central role in heart morphogenesis and angiogenesis through regulation of cell adhesion and cell migration.