Recombinant human activin AB protein (Qk127) Price range: £350.00 through £4,500.00View product
Recombinant human activin AB protein (Qk127)
Price range: £350.00 through £4,500.00
Activins are members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily, a group of proteins that play key roles in regulating cell growth, survival and differentiation. In vivo activins exist as homodimers or heterodimers, the activin heterodimer AB is widely expressed and biologically active with similar functions to the activin AA homodimer.
Qkine recombinant activin AB is a bioactive 25.7 kDa heterodimer, animal origin-free, tag free and carrier free for improved reproducibility.
Qkine animal origin-free recombinant human activin AB heterodimer is available to purchase and will be delivered within 6-8 weeks.
In stock
Orders are typically shipped same or next day (except Friday).
Easy world-wide ordering, direct or through our distributors.
Price range: £350.00 through £4,500.00
1000 µg will be dispatched as 2 x 500 µg.
Buy online with secure credit card or purchase order. For any questions, please email [email protected]
Summary:
- High purity human Activin AB protein (UniProt: P08476 and P09529)
- 25.7 kDa (dimer)
>98%, by SDS-PAGE quantitative densitometry
Animal origin-free (AOF) and carrier protein-free
Expressed in E. coli
Manufactured in our Cambridge, UK laboratories
Lyophilized from acetonitrile, TFA
Featured applications:
Drug discovery in metabolism
Wound healing and fibrosis
Recombinant activin AB activity was determined using a Smad reporter assay in HEK293 cells co-transfected with the activin B co-receptor ALK7. HEK293 cells were treated in triplicate with a serial dilution of activin AB for 6 hours. Firefly activity was measured and normalized to the control Renilla luciferase activity. Data from Qk127 lot #204819. EC50 = 0.12 ng/ml (4.7 pM).
Recombinant activin AB migrates as two bands at approximately 13 and 14 kDa (monomers) in the reduced (R) condition, and as one band at approximately 20 kDa (dimer) in the non-reduced (NR) condition. No contaminating protein bands are present. The purified recombinant protein (3 µg) was resolved using 15% w/v SDS-PAGE in reduced (+β-mercaptoethanol, R) and non-reduced (NR) conditions and stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250. Data from Qk127 lot #204819.
Further quality assays
Mass spectrometry: single species with expected mass
Recovery from stock vial: >95%
Endotoxin: <0.05 EU/μg protein
We are a company founded and run by scientists to provide a service and support innovation in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. All our products are exceptionally high purity, with complete characterisation and bioactivity analysis on every lot.
Qkine activin AB was as bioactive as activin AB from an alternative supplier. Activin AB activity was determined using a Smad reporter assay in HEK293 cells co-transfected with the activin B co-receptor ALK7. Transfected cells were treated in triplicate with a serial dilution of Qkine activin AB (Qk127, green) or alternative activin AB (Supplier A, black) for 6 hours. Firefly activity was measured and normalized to the control Renilla luciferase activity. Data from Qk127 lot #204819.
Product background
Activins are members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) family of proteins which includes ligands, receptors and signaling molecules with essential roles in growth, differentiation and proliferation in a wide range of cell types [1-3]. Activins are secreted proteins which function as dimers of two inhibinβ chains linked by a disulfide bond. Members of the activin class include activin A, activin B, activin C, and activin E, and extend to include GDF-8 (myostatin) and GDF-11 (BMP-11). The inhibinβ chains A, B, C and E combine to form functional activin ligands. Activin A is comprised of two inhibinβA chains, activin B two inhibinβB chains and activin C two inhibinβC chains [2-3]. Inhibinβ chains are homologous with 63% identity between A and B and 50% with C; they can also form heterodimers, e.g. activin AB is inhibinβA and inhibinβB and activin AC is inhibinβA and inhibinβC [1-3].
TGF-β family ligands signal through two main pathways which active specific SMAD transcription factors to affect many cellular functions. Binding to type 1 activin receptor-like kinase (ALK) receptors ALK4, ALK5 and ALK7 activates the SMAD2/3 pathway and ALK1, ALK2, ALK3 and ALK6 activate SMAD1/5/8 pathway [4]. Activins activate the SMAD2/3 pathway through the type 1 activin receptors ALK4 and ALK7.
Activin B, along with activin A, has been demonstrated to mediate the activation or expression of JNK, iNOS, and PARP1 and the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), driving the initiation and progression of liver fibrosis [5]. Overexpression of activin has been shown to have beneficial effects in the pathogenesis of diabetes, stimulating insulin sensitivity and reducing fat by inducing fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) while suppressing glucagon action in the liver by increasing phosphodiesterase 4 B (PDE4B) [6]. In adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), activin B was able to activate JNK and ERK signaling pathways to induce actin stress fiber formation and ADSC migration to promote wound healing [7].
Additional resources
FAQ
What is activin AB?
Activin AB is a heterodimer of A and B subunits. Activins are members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily, a group of proteins that play key roles in regulating cell growth, survival, and differentiation.
Where is activin AB found?
Activin AB is highly expressed in the liver, testis and prostate.
Is activin AB a cytokine?
Yes, activins are cytokines.
What does the activin B gene do?
The INHBB gene codes for activin B, also known as inhibin beta B
What does activin AB bind to?
Activins bind to type 1 activin receptors ALK4 and ALK7.
What is the function of the activin AB receptor?
Activin receptor binding activates the SMAD2/3 pathway, activin B is also able to activate JNK and ERK signaling pathways.
What is the activin AB pathway?
Activins activate the canonical pathways (Smads) and non-canonical pathways (MAPK signaling) both regulate gene transcription involved in cell survival and proliferation.
How is activin AB used in cell culture?
Recombinant activin AB is used in the study of liver fibrosis, diabetes and wound healing.
Special guidance for reconstitution of TGF beta family including activins, BMPs and GDFs
TGF beta family proteins and other growth factors can be very poorly soluble in physiological solutions. Please follow the handling guidance for lyophilized cytokines below to minimize loss of protein due to precipitation or adsorption to plastic. We advise storing the recombinant protein at very low pH before dilution in cell culture media or final working solutions. Low pH will also assist in maintaining the correct disulfide structure of the protein by minimizing disulfide bond exchange reactions.
- Resuspension in physiological buffers may cause precipitation of stock solutions, hence we recommend dissolving our lyophilized cytokines in 10 mM HCl (1:1000 dilution of concentrated HCl) while keeping the protein concentration at 50 µg/ml or above, in order to avoid loss by adsorption to plasticware.
- To ensure you recover all of the protein, let the sample sit for a few minutes with the solubilization buffer at room temperature and pipette gently up and down (avoid foaming).
- Rinse the tube with some more 10 mM HCl and pool with the rest.
- The protein is tolerant of some freeze and thaw cycles, but as always with proteins, it is better to aliquot and store frozen.
- Our proteins are supplied carrier-protein free. If compatible with your work, add carrier protein of your choice such as BSA, HSA or gelatin to further minimize loss by adsorption.
- Store in -80°C for long term storage. -20°C for short-term.
Every effort is made to ensure samples are sterile; however, we recommend sterile filtering after dilution in media or the final working solution.
Our products are for research use only and not for diagnostic or therapeutic use. Products are not for resale.
For use in manufacturing of cellular or gene therapy products. Not intended for in vivo applications.
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