Stimulates the proliferation of mast cells. Able to augment the proliferation of both myeloid and lymphoid hematopoietic progenitors in bone marrow culture. Mediates also cell-cell adhesion. Acts synergistically with other cytokines, probably interleukins (By similarity). Homodimer, non-covalently linked. A soluble form is produced by proteolytic processing of isoform 1 in the extracellular domain. The roan locus is responsible for the coat coloration of Belgian Blue and Shorthorn cattle. The solid-colored and white animals are homozygotes, and the roan animals, with intermingled colored and white hairs, are heterozygous. The roan phenotype is due to the Asp-218 mutation. Belongs to the SCF family.