P14210

HGF is a crucial pleiotropic growth factor involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, motility, and morphogenesis, by interacting with its receptor, c-Met. Structurally, HGF is synthesized as a single-chain precursor of 728 amino acids, which includes a 29-amino acid signal peptide that is cleaved to form the mature, biologically active protein. The mature HGF consists of a disulfide-linked α chain and a β chain, both of which are highly glycosylated, a modification essential for its stability and interaction with the c-Met receptor. This structural configuration is vital as it facilitates HGF′s binding to c-Met, triggering downstream signaling pathways that regulate important physiological functions such as liver regeneration, wound healing, and embryonic development.