protein_function: Potent mitogen for mature parenchymal hepatocyte cells,seems to be a hepatotrophic factor, and acts as a growth factorfor a broad spectrum of tissues and cell types. Activating ligandfor the receptor tyrosine kinase MET by binding to it andpromoting its dimerization (By similarity)..
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is the most potent mitogen for mature parenchymal hepatocytes in primary culture, and seems to be a hepatotrophic factor that acts as a trigger for liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy and liver injury. HGF has a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 82,000 and is a heterodimer composed of a large alpha-subunit of Mr 69,000 and a small beta-subunit of Mr 34,000.1 The protein consists of 728 amino acid residues, including a possible signal peptide at the N-terminus.2 HGF may serve as a paracrine mediator to control placental development and growth.3 This growth factor may play an important role as a paracrine mediator of the proliferation of melanocytes and endothelial cells, as well as cells of epithelial origin.4 The gene encoding the human HGF is assigned to human chromosome 7.
