# Qkine

> High purity, bioactive recombinant cytokine proteins and growth factors made for stem cell, organoid and regenerative medicine\.

Generated by Yoast SEO v27.8, this is an llms.txt file, meant for consumption by LLMs.

## Pages
- [About](https://qkine.com/about/)
- [Contact](https://qkine.com/contact/)
- [Terms and conditions of sale](https://qkine.com/terms-and-conditions-of-sale/)
- [Privacy notice](https://qkine.com/privacy-notice/)
- [Growth Factors](https://qkine.com/growth-factors/)
- [Growth factors and cytokines for cell and gene therapy](https://qkine.com/cell-gene-therapy/)
- [Food Grade Proteins](https://qkine.com/high-quality-food-grade-growth-factor/)
- [Discovery and differentiation kits](https://qkine.com/growth-factor-discovery-kits/)
- [StemCultures](https://qkine.com/stemcultures/)

## Posts
- [Pep Talk May/June 2026](https://qkine.com/2026/06/24/pep-talk-may-june-2026/): So much has been happening at Qkine that we missed May \- oops\! Hope you enjoy our May/June update
- [Reflections on the FDA Modernization Act 3\.0 and how Qkine can be an enabling supplier for human\-relevant, 100% animal\-free, reproducible NAM workflows](https://qkine.com/2026/06/18/fda-modernization-act/)
- [Pep Talk April 2026](https://qkine.com/2026/04/27/pep-talk-april-2026/): Its been an exciting and busy start to the year\! Read our newsletter for updates on new distributors, application notes, publications and events\.
- [Qkine to distribute Defined Bioscience’s fully defined, animal\-free cell culture media supplements](https://qkine.com/2026/06/22/qkine-defined-bioscience-supply-agreement/): Qkine now supplies Defined Bioscience’s animal\-free cell culture supplements
- [Pluristyx and Qkine Announce a Reciprocal Distribution Agreement in Support of Optimized Growth Factor Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell \(iPSC\)](https://qkine.com/2026/05/01/pluristyx-qkine-announce-reciprocal-distribution-agreement/): Pluristyx and Qkine Announce a Reciprocal Distribution Agreement in Support of Optimized Growth Factor Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell \(iPSC\) 

## Products
- [Recombinant human IL\-21 protein \(Qk129\)](https://qkine.com/product/recombinant-human-il-21-protein-qk129/): \<strong\>Qkine animal origin\-free recombinant human IL\-21 will be available soon, contact \<a href="mailto:support@qkine\.com"\>support@qkine\.com\</a\> for updates and pre\-orders\.\</strong\>

Interleukin 21 \(IL\-21\) is a cytokine produced by natural killer \(NK\) cells and some T cells\. IL\-21 has broad immunological functions and can regulate NK cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, as well as playing a role in promoting B cell and antibody responses\. Recombinant IL\-21 can be used in the differentiation of subsets T cells, NK cells, B cells and plasma cells\.

Qkine recombinant human IL\-21 is a pure and highly bioactive 15\.3 kDa monomer\.
- [Recombinant human nodal protein \(Qk029\)](https://qkine.com/product/recombinant-human-nodal-protein-qk029/): Nodal is a \<a href="https://qkine\.com/product\-category/growth\-factor\-cytokine/tgf\-beta\-family/"\>transforming growth factor β \(TGF\-β\) family\</a\> member which has an essential role in embryonic development\. Nodal signaling controls endoderm and mesoderm germ layer specification whilst preventing neuroectoderm formation\. It has also been implicated in cancer metastasis\. Recombinant nodal has been found to maintain pluripotency in embryonic stem cells \(hESCs\) and induced pluripotent stem cells \(iPSCs\)\.

Qkine recombinant human nodal has been manufactured to be completely \<a href="https://qkine\.com/quality\-commitment/animal\-free\-manufacture/"\>animal origin\-free\</a\> with reliable and consistent bioactivity for the reproducible maintenance of pluripotency in stem cells\. Recombinant nodal is a 25\.9 kDa homodimer, tag and carrier free\.

\<strong\>This protein is also available as GMP compliant \<a href="https://qkine\.com/cell\-gene\-therapy/"\>Cell Therapy Grade\</a\>, to enquire email \<a href="mailto:support@qkine\.com"\>support@qkine\.com\</a\>\.\</strong\>
- [Recombinant bovine BMP\-4 protein \(Qk135\)](https://qkine.com/product/recombinant-bovine-bmp-4-protein-qk135/): BMP\-4 \(bone morphogenetic protein 4\) is a key regulator of embryogenesis and supports the differentiation of embryonic stem cells and induced \<a href="https://qkine\.com/pluripotency/"\>pluripotent\</a\> stem cells\. In addition, BMP\-4 protein plays roles in the differentiation of mesenchymal cells to adipocytes, epithelial cancer EMT, and regulating \<a href="https://qkine\.com/neural\-stem\-cell\-culture/"\>neuronal and glial cell\</a\> development\.

Qkine BMP\-4 is a highly pure, \<a href="https://qkine\.com/animal\-free\-manufacture/"\>animal origin\-free\</a\> and carrier protein\-free 24 kDa disulfide–linked bioactive dimer comprised of the mature domain of bovine BMP\-4 protein\.
- [Recombinant human BMP\-7 protein \(Qk028\)](https://qkine.com/product/recombinant-human-bmp-7-protein-qk028/): \<strong\>Qkine animal origin\-free recombinant BMP\-7 protein will be available soon \- email \<a href="mailto:support@qkine\.com"\>support@qkine\.com\</a\> for updates\.\</strong\>

Bone morphogenetic protein 7 \(BMP\-7\) is a member of the \<a href="https://qkine\.com/product\-category/growth\-factor\-cytokine/tgf\-beta\-family/"\>transforming growth factor\-beta \(TGF\-β\) superfamily\</a\>, a group of proteins that play key roles in regulating cell growth, survival and differentiation\. BMP\-7 plays a key role in the transformation of mesenchymal cells into bone and cartilage\.
- [Recombinant human activin AC protein \(Qk128\)](https://qkine.com/product/recombinant-human-activin-a-c-protein-qk128/): \<strong\>Qkine animal origin\-free recombinant human activin AC heterodimer will be available soon, contact \<a href="mailto:support@qkine\.com"\>support@qkine\.com\</a\> for updates and pre\-orders\.\</strong\>

Activins are members of the \<a href="https://qkine\.com/product\-category/growth\-factor\-cytokine/tgf\-beta\-family/"\>transforming growth factor\-beta \(TGF\-β\) superfamily\</a\>, a group of proteins that play key roles in regulating cell growth, survival and differentiation\. \<em\>In vivo\</em\> activins exist as homodimers or heterodimers, the activin heterodimer AC is expressed in liver, testis and prostate, formation of the dimer has been shown to decrease the activin of activin A and reduce activin signaling\.

## Application Notes
- [Qkine reconstituted growth factors and cytokines exhibit excellent stability under recommended storage conditions](https://qkine.com/application-note/qkine-reconstituted-growth-factors-and-cytokines-show-excellent-stability-under-standard-storage-conditions/)
- [Enabling robust iPSC maintenance with QkPlate© pre\-prepared dried vitronectin\-coated plates](https://qkine.com/application-note/enabling-robust-ipsc-maintenance-with-pre-prepared-dried-vitronectin-coated-plates/)
- [CytoBoost™\-enhanced growth factor activity for cell culture and bioprocessing](https://qkine.com/application-note/cytoboost-enhanced-growth-factor-activity-for-cell-culture-and-bioprocessing/)
- [CytoBoost™ for increased proliferation of muscle and fat cells in serum\-free cultures](https://qkine.com/application-note/cytoboost-for-increased-proliferation-of-muscle-and-fat-cells-in-serum-free-cultures/)
- [StemCultures controlled\-release FGF\-2 enhances stem cell maintenance, differentiation and organoid cultures](https://qkine.com/application-note/stemcultures-controlled-release-fgf-2-enhances-stem-cell-maintenance-and-differentiation/)

## Technote
- [Technote \| GDF\-11 \(BMP\-11\) protein \(Qk126\) bioactivity vs alternative supplier](https://qkine.com/technotes/technote-gdf-11-bmp-11-protein-qk126-bioactivity-vs-alternative-supplier/)
- [Technote \| Activin AB \(Qk127\) bioactivity vs alternative supplier](https://qkine.com/technotes/technote-activin-ab-qk127-bioactivity-vs-alternative-supplier/)
- [Technote \| TGF\-β1 PLUS™ \(Qk010\) bioactivity vs alternative suppliers](https://qkine.com/technotes/technote-tgf-β1-plus-qk010-bioactivity/)
- [Technote \| TGF\-β3 \(Qk054\) bioactivity vs alternative supplier](https://qkine.com/technotes/technote-tgf-β3-qk054-bioactivity/)
- [Technote \| TGF\-β1 PLUS™ \(Qk010\) cartilage spheroids](https://qkine.com/technotes/technote-tgf-β1-plus-qk010-cartilage-spheroids/)

## Vacancies
- [Head of Marketing](https://qkine.com/vacancy/head-of-marketing/)
- [QA Officer \(Quality\)](https://qkine.com/vacancy/qa-officer-quality/)

## Cell Type Categories
- [Osteogenic stem cells](https://qkine.com/cell-type-category/osteogenic-stem-cells/)
- [Dendritic cells](https://qkine.com/cell-type-category/dendritic-cells/)
- [Cardiomyocytes](https://qkine.com/cell-type-category/cardiomyocytes/)
- [Endothelial cells](https://qkine.com/cell-type-category/endothelial-cells/)
- [Epithelial cells](https://qkine.com/cell-type-category/epithelial-cells/)

## Protein Family Categories
- [BMPs and GDFs](https://qkine.com/protein-family-category/tgf-beta-superfamily/bmps-and-gdfs/)
- [Colony stimulating factors](https://qkine.com/protein-family-category/cytokines/csf-family/)
- [Epidermal growth factors](https://qkine.com/protein-family-category/egf-family/)
- [Fibroblast growth factors](https://qkine.com/protein-family-category/fgf-superfamily/)
- [Hepatocyte growth factors](https://qkine.com/protein-family-category/hgf-family/)

## Scientific Areas
- [StemPro media](https://qkine.com/scientific-area/human-stem-cell-maintenance/stempro-media/)
- [Drug discovery](https://qkine.com/scientific-area/new-approach-methodologies-nams/drug-discovery/)
- [Oligodendrocyte](https://qkine.com/scientific-area/stem-cell-differentiation/oligodendrocyte/)
- [Organoids](https://qkine.com/scientific-area/organoids/)
- [B8 media](https://qkine.com/scientific-area/human-stem-cell-maintenance/b8-media/)

## Optional
- [Sitemap index](https://qkine.com/sitemap_index.xml)