RON is a macrophage stimulating 1 receptor c-met-related tyrosine kinase. RON receptor tyrosine kinase interacts with HYAL2 receptor protein, rendering it functionally inactive. HYAL2 is a candidate tumor-suppressor glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored cell-surface protein th at serves as an entry receptor for jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus, a virus th at causes contagious lung cancer in sheep th at is morphologically similar to human bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. It was shown th at RON liberated from the association with HYAL2 becomes functionally active and activates the Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways.
