Binding of scatter factor (SF) to the surface protein of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells was investigated. The factor has a specific affinity for membrane proteins of MDCK cells and could be purified 10-20-fold using a membrane protein-affinity chromatographic procedure. The binding was pH- and salt-dependent. The factor did not bind to columns prepared with membrane proteins from non responder cells or with bovine serum albumin. Further purification to homogeneity was achieved using reverse phase and immunoaffinity chromatography. The factor dissociated into 92, 62 and 34/32 kDa bands on SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. A 230 kDa protein band, the receptor-SF complex, was observed when radiolabeled SF was crosslinked to surface proteins of MDCK cells and the complexes were subjected to electrophoresis. The binding of radiolabeled SF to the MDCK cells was decreased in presence of excess unlabeled SF. These observations suggest that the binding of SF to surface proteins of MDCK cells is specific and occurs predominantly to a 150 kDa protein.