Stem Cell Factor is also known as SCF,
kit-ligand, KL, steel factor, KITLG, FPH2, KL-1, Kitl, MGF, SCF, SF, or SHEP7,
and is a cytokine that binds to the c-Kit receptor （CD117）. Stem cell factors
perform their biological functions by binding to and activating the receptor
tyrosine kinase c-Kit. The human SCF gene encodes for a 273 amino acid
transmembrane protein, which contains a 25 amino acid N-terminal signal
sequence, a 189 amino acid extracellular domain, a 23 amino acid transmembrane
domain, and a 36 amino acid cytoplasmic domain. Stem cell factor （SCF） has been
shown to stimulate the proliferation of myeloid, erythroid, and lymphoid
progenitor cells in bone marrow culture and has been shown to work synergically
with colony-stimulating factors.