該基因編碼一種與肝細胞生長因子受體結合的蛋白質，在許多細胞和組織類型中調節細胞生長、細胞運動和形態發生。選擇性剪接產生多個轉錄變體，其中至少一個編碼蛋白前體，蛋白水解后生成α和β鏈，形成成熟異二聚體。這種蛋白由間充質細胞分泌，在主要來源于上皮細胞的細胞上起多功能細胞因子的作用。這種蛋白也在血管生成、腫瘤發生和組織再生中起作用。盡管編碼蛋白是絲氨酸蛋白酶S1家族的成員，但它缺乏肽酶活性。該基因突變與非綜合性聽力損失有關。
This gene encodes a protein that binds to the hepatocyte growth factor receptor to regulate cell growth, cell motility and morphogenesis in numerous cell and tissue types. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants, at least one of which encodes a preproprotein that is proteolytically processed to generate alpha and beta chains, which form the mature heterodimer. This protein is secreted by mesenchymal cells and acts as a multi-functional cytokine on cells of mainly epithelial origin. This protein also plays a role in angiogenesis, tumorogenesis, and tissue regeneration. Although the encoded protein is a member of the peptidase S1 family of serine proteases, it lacks peptidase activity. Mutations in this gene are associated with nonsyndromic hearing loss.
