HGF
HGF (hepatocyte growth factor, also known as scatter factor, SF, F-TCF, HGFB, HPTA and DFNB39) is a secreted growth factor that activates the receptor tyrosine kinase MET. It regulates cell growth, motility and morphogenesis in many cell and tissue types. Browse Assay Genie's current range of HGF research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
HGF is a potent mitogen for mature parenchymal hepatocytes and appears to act as a hepatotrophic factor, but it also works as a growth factor for a broad spectrum of tissues and cell types. It is the activating ligand of the receptor tyrosine kinase MET: HGF binds MET and promotes its dimerisation. HGF also activates MAPK signalling following cleavage and activation by TMPRSS13. The protein is secreted by mesenchymal cells and acts as a multi-functional cytokine on cells that are mainly epithelial in origin.
The HGF gene encodes a preproprotein that is proteolytically processed into alpha and beta chains, which form the mature heterodimer. Alternative splicing produces multiple transcript variants. HGF belongs to the peptidase S1 family, plasminogen subfamily, and HGNC places it in the kringle domain containing gene group. Although it is a member of the serine protease family, it lacks peptidase activity. Mouse and rat both carry an orthologous Hgf gene.
Beyond growth control, HGF plays a role in angiogenesis, tumorigenesis and tissue regeneration. Mutations in the HGF gene are associated with nonsyndromic hearing loss, which explains the DFNB39 alias (deafness, autosomal recessive 39). The names hepapoietin A and scatter factor reflect earlier descriptions of the same protein. Researchers studying HGF signalling often work with the HGF protein, HGF antibody and HGF ELISA kit formats alongside its receptor MET.
HGF activates MET by promoting its dimerisation, making it a core ligand for studying receptor activation and downstream MAPK signalling.
As a mitogen for hepatocytes with a role in tissue regeneration, HGF is widely studied in hepatic and repair biology.
HGF is linked to angiogenesis and tumorigenesis, so it features in studies of cell growth, motility and tumour biology.
HGF acts on cells of mainly epithelial origin to regulate motility and morphogenesis, supporting developmental and cell migration research.
HGF is a secreted growth factor and the activating ligand of the receptor tyrosine kinase MET, which it binds and promotes to dimerise. It is a potent mitogen for hepatocytes and regulates cell growth, motility and morphogenesis in many tissues. It also contributes to angiogenesis and tissue regeneration.
HGF is also called scatter factor (SF), F-TCF, HGFB, HPTA and DFNB39. Earlier names include hepapoietin A and deafness, autosomal recessive 39. The gene produces multiple transcript variants, and at least one encodes a preproprotein processed into alpha and beta chains that form the mature heterodimer.
Mouse and rat each have an orthologous Hgf gene; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity. In humans, mutations in HGF are associated with nonsyndromic hearing loss, and the protein is implicated in angiogenesis, tumorigenesis and tissue regeneration.
Other kringle-domain proteins, the HGF receptor MET, its activating proteases and downstream signalling partners with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P14210; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.