Recombinant bovine/porcine FGF-2 (154 aa) protein (Qk056-FG)

Protein background

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a family of growth factors which regulate a wide range of essential biological functions including cell proliferation and survival, migration and differentiation [1]. The human FGF family has 18-22 members grouped into 6-7 subfamilies based on sequence homology and phylogeny [2]. The FGF family of growth factors have critical roles during both vertebrate and invertebrate embryonic development, in adult cells they modulate tissue maintenance, wound healing and angiogenesis [1,2]. The FGF ligands bind to 4 receptors (FGFR1-4), transmembrane receptors with intracellular tyrosine kinase activity [2, 3]. Once activated FGFRs recruit Src homology-2 (SH2) or phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain-containing signaling proteins leading to activation of intracellular signaling pathways [1]. The main signaling pathways activated by FGF binding are the RAS/MAP kinase pathway, PI3 kinase/Akt pathway, and PLCγ pathways [1-3].

Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) also known as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has a broad range of physiological roles including regulation of cell growth, survival and proliferation. FGF-2 is one of the FGFs which binds to and signals through all four of the FGFRs [4]. FGF-2 is an essential growth factor for the maintenance of pluripotency in human embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) [4-6] and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) [7]. FGF-2 preserves pluripotency through interaction with PI3 kinase/Akt, ERK1/2, JAK/STAT and PLCγ pathways by activation of Activin A. In feeder culture systems FGF-2 stimulates production of essential growth factors and cytokines from the feeder layer [7].

FGF-2 is an important factor in muscle development and healing after injury [8]. Cultured meat is a potential sustainable food generated through the in vitro myogenesis of muscle satellite (stem) cells (MSCs), involving MSC culture and differentiation, and mature muscle cell processing for flavor and texture [9]. FGF-2 induces the proliferation of cultured myoblasts and inhibits their differentiation [8, 9].

FGF-2 is an important component of Beefy9, a serum free media developed for the in vitro expansion of MSCs for cultured meat, Beefy9 allows for expansion of MSC while preserving myogenicity [10]. The two forms of recombinant bovine/porcine FGF2 protein 154 aa (Qk056-FG) and 145 aa (Qk040-FG)  available from Qkine facilitate the development of fully optimized serum-free culture media for cellular agriculture applications.