HGF

HGF, also known as scatter factor and hepatopoietin A, is a pleiotropic protein in the plasminogen subfamily of S1 peptidases , and acts as a growth factor for a broad spectrum of tissues and cell types. HGF signals through a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor known as MET. Activities of HGF include the induction of cell proliferation, motility, morphogenesis, inhibition of cell growth, and enhancement of neuron survival. HGF is a crucial mitogen for liver regeneration processes, HGF promotes the motility of cardiac stem cells in damaged myocardium.
Human and murine HGF are cross-reactive. Human HGF is expressed as a linear, polypeptide-precursor glycoprotein residues. Proteolytic processing of this precursor generates the biologically active heterodimeric form of HGF, which consists of two polypeptide chains (α-chain and β-chain) held together by a single disulfide bond resulting in formation of a biologically active heterodimer.