Identification of the Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor as the c-met Proto-Oncogene Product

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a plasminogen-like protein thought to be a humoral mediator of liver regeneration. A 145-kilodalton tyrosyl phosphoprotein observed in rapid response to HGF treatment of intact target cells was identified by immunoblot analysis as the β subunit of the c-met proto-oncogene product, a membrane-spanning tyrosine kinase. Covalent cross-linking of $^{125}$I-labeled ligand to cellular proteins of appropriate size that were recognized by antibodies to c-met directly established the c-met product as the cell-surface receptor for HGF.