Midkine, or MK, is a heparin-binding molecule involved in the regulation of growth and differentiation during embryogenesis. MK expression is tightly regulated during embryonic development by steroid receptors of the retinoic acid superfamily. The mature human MK protein is 118 amino acids in length and contains five intrachain disulfide bonds. MK is a non-glycosylated protein that shows greater than 87% identity between human and mouse. The carboxy-terminus of MK contains the principle heparin-binding site and the molecule’s neurite-promoting sequences; both the amino- and carboxy-terminal sequences are required for the molecule’s neurotrophic properties. An association between overexpression of MK and colon adenocarcinoma has been shown in families suffering from familial polyposis. In addition, MK functions to enhance the activity of plasminogen activator (PA).