Are hepatocyte growth factor‐like protein and macrophage stimulating protein the same protein?

Abstract

We have isolated and characterized a human gene that is located at the D3F15S2 locus on human chromosome 3 (3p21), a region believed to code for one or more tumor suppressor genes because this region is deleted in DNA from small cell lung carcinomas, renal carcinomas, and other forms of cancer The corresponding cDNA for our recently discovered gene codes for a protein with a domain structure similar to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF; Based on this similarity, we have called the protein encoded by our cDNA "HGF-like (HGFL) protein." HGF itself can act as either a growth factor, tumor suppressor, scatter factor, or morphogen depending on the target tissue or cell type (Michalopoulos & Zarnegar, 1992). However, the biological activities of HGFL protein remain to be determined.