The fms-like tyrosine kinase, a receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor

The fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt) is a transmembrane receptor in the tyrosine kinase family. Expression of flt complementary DNA in COS cells conferred specific, high-affinity binding of vascular endothelial growth factor, also known as vascular permeability factor (VEGF-VPF), a factor that induces vascular permeability when injected in the guinea pig skin and stimulates endothelial cell proliferation. Expression of Flt in Xenopus laevis oocytes caused the oocytes to release calcium in response to VEGF-VPF. These findings show that flt encodes a receptor for VEGF-VPF.
Vascular permeability factor (VPF) was originally purified from guinea pig ascites and tumor cell culture medium as an agent that increases blood vessel permeability [1, 2]. VPF also stimulates migration [...]