HGF receptors regulate maturation of the liver in the embryo, as well as having roles in the adult, for example, in the innate immune system. HGF is synthesized as a single gene product, which is post-translationally processed to yield a heterodimer linked by a disulphide bridge. The maturation of HGF is enhanced by a serine protease, HGF activating complex, and inhibited by HGF-inhibitor 1 (SPINT1, O43278), a serine protease inhibitor. MST1, the ligand of RON, is two disulphide-linked peptide chains generated by proteolysis of a single gene product.

PF04217903 is a selective Met tyrosine kinase inhibitor [3]. SU11274 is an inhibitor of the HGF receptor [6], with the possibility of further targets [1].

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