Expression of c‐met proto‐oncogene in COS cells induces the signal transducing high‐affinity receptor for hepatocyte growth factor

Abstract

By transfection of the expression plasmid containing a human c‐met cDNA into COS‐7 cells, high‐affinity binding sites specific for HGF with a K _d value of 30 pM were newly detected. Furthermore, only in the c‐met transfected COS‐7 cells, but not in the control COS‐7 cells, DNA synthesis was markedly induced in response to HGF. Thus, transient expression of exogenous c‐met cDNA resulted in the appearance of high‐affinity receptor for HGF and conversion of the normally non‐responsive COS‐7 cells into the HGF‐responsive cells. These results provide evidence for identifying the c‐met product as a signal transducing high‐affinity receptor for HGF.