Mouse Pro-HGF Activator Antibody

Pro-HGF-A (Hepatocyte growth factor activator protein) is a 96 kDa member of the PA-FXII-HGFA family of enzymes. It is secreted by hepatocytes and is found in plasma at approximately 40 nM concentration. Other cells selectively reported to express HGF-A include astrocytes, endothelium, fibroblasts and macrophages. Upon activation, HGF-A is known to activate both proHGF and proMSP via proteolytic cleavage. The circulating 96 kDa form of mouse HGF-A represents an inactive 619 amino acid (aa) proform (aa 35-653). Within this proform exists one FN type II domain (aa 100-147), an EGF-like domain (aa 157-195), an FN type III domain (aa 197‑237), a second EGF-like domain (aa 238-276), a kringle domain (aa 283-364) and a functional peptidase S1 domain (aa 406-644). Activation of HGF-A typically occurs with a thrombin-mediated cleavage between Arg405-Ile406 and a KLK cleavage between Arg369-Val370. This creates a 34 kDa heterodimeric active product that contains a 2 kDa N-terminus (aa 370-405) disulfide linked to a 32 kDa C-terminus (aa 406-653). Once activated, the 34 kDa heterodimer binds to cell surface HAI‑1, rendering it unavailable to circulating HGF. When needed, this HGF-A:HAI-1 complex is released, HGF-A dissociates from HAI-1, and HGF-A is free to activate proHGF. Over aa 35-653, mouse HGF-A shares 92% and 82% aa identity with rat and human HGF-A, respectively.