Oligonucleotide‐Based Mimetics of Hepatocyte Growth Factor

Oligonucleotide-based hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mimetics are described. A DNA aptamer to Met, a cognate receptor for HGF, was shown to induce Met activation when used in dimer form. The most potent aptamer dimer, ss-0, which was composed solely of 100-mer single-stranded DNA, exhibited nanomolar potency. Aptamer ss-0 reproduced HGF-induced cellular behaviors, including migration and proliferation. The present work sheds light on oligonucleotides as a novel chemical entity for the design of growth factor mimetics.