Description |
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C (VEGF-C) is A VEGF growth factor family member that is most closely related to VEGF-D. Like VEGF-D, VEGF-C has a VEGF homology domain spanning the middle third of the precursor molecule and long N- and C-terminal extensions. In adults, VEGF-C is highly expressed in heart, placenta, ovary and small intestine. Recombinant rat VEGF-C, lacking the N- and C-terminal extensions and containing only the middle VEGF homology domain, forms primarily non-covalently linked dimers. This protein is a ligand for both VEGFR-2/KDR and VEGFR-3/FLT -4. Since VEGFR-3 is strongly expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells, it has been postulated that VEGF-C is involved in the regulation of the growth and/or differentiation of lymphatic endothelium. Although recombinant rat VEGF-C is also a mitogen for vascular endothelial cells, it is much less potent than VEGF-A. Recombinant Rat VEGF-C contains 129 amino acids fused to a 6x His tag at the C-terminal end. As a result of glycosylation, VEGF-C migrates as an 18-24 kDa protein in SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. |