Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1

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Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1 or sVEGFR-1), a tyrosine kinase protein which disables proteins that cause blood vessel growth.

Splicing of the Flt-1 pre m-RNA can result in the full-length Flt-1 receptor , or in its shorter soluble form: sFlt-1. These proteins act as a recoptor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic growth factor. (Another VEGF receptor is KDR).

Soluble Flt-1 binds and inhibits VEGF activity,- a VEGF antagonist. Like soluble endoglin, it has been found to be implicated in the development of pre-eclampsia.

The activity of this enzyme is responsible for the non-vascular nature of the cornea of the eye of most mammals. In the manatee, which has a vascular cornea, this kinase is not active.