Receptor activation by gas6

摘要

The translation product of the growth arrest-specific gene 6 (gas6) has been identified as an activator of the Mer receptor protein tyrosine kinase. The invention accordingly provides methods of activating Mer receptor in cells expressing it by exposing them to exogenous gas6 polypeptides. Also provided are methods of enhancing the growth, differentiation, or survival of such cells using gas6 polypeptides.