Recombinant human activin A PLUS™ protein (Qk005)

Human recombinant activin A PLUS™ protein is an optimised biologically active truncation of the mature domain of human activin A protein.  The EC50 and activity in stem cell culture of activin A PLUS is equivalent to the full mature domain activin A.

High purity 24 kDa dimer comprising truncated mature domain of activin A protein, animal origin-free (AOF) and carrier-protein free (CF).  Recombinant activin A PLUS™ is designed to be manufactured at scale for cost-effective, large-scale stem cell culture applications.

Orders are typically shipped same or next day (except Friday).
Easy world-wide ordering, direct or through our distributors.

1000µg will be despatched as 2 x 500µg

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For any questions, please email orders@qkine.com

Summary

  • High purity optimized mature domain of human activin A (Uniprot: P08476) – particularly suitable for bulk and scale-up stem cell culture applications

  • >98%, by SDS-PAGE quantitative densitometry

  • 24 kDa (dimer)

  • Expressed in E. coli

  • Animal origin-free (AOF) and carrier protein-free

  • Manufactured in our Cambridge, UK laboratories

  • Lyophilized from acetonitrile, TFA

  • Resuspend in 10 mM HCl at >100 µg/ml (provided with protein and free of charge), prepare single use aliquots, add carrier protein if desired and store frozen at -20°C or -80°C

Featured applications

  • Large scale stem cell expansion

ActA, Activin beta-A chain, Erythroid differentiation protein (EDP), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) releasing protein (FRP), INHBA, Inhibin beta A, Inhibin beta 1

human

species similarity:
mouse – 100%
rat – 100%

Bioactivity

Human Activin A PLUS Qk005 protein bioactivity lot #010

Activin A PLUS™ activity is determined using an activin-responsive firefly luciferase reporter in HEK293T cells. in triplicate) with a serial dilution of activin A for 6 hours.  Firefly luciferase activity is measured and normalized to the control Renilla luciferase activity. EC50 = 0.103 ng/ml (4.24 pM).  EC50 is within the expected range of 6 ± 2 pM.  Data from Qk005 lot #104344.

Purity

Human Activin A PLUS Qk005 protein purity SDS-PAGE lot #010

Activin A PLUS™ migrates as a single band at 24 kDa in non-reducing (NR) and 13 kDa as a single monomeric species upon reduction (R).  No contaminating protein bands are visible. Purified recombinant protein (7 µg) was resolved using 15% w/v SDS-PAGE in reduced (+β-mercaptothanol, R) and non-reduced conditions (NR) and stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250.  Data from Qk005 lot #010.

Further quality assays

  • Mass spectrometry: single species with expected mass

  • Analytical reversed-phase: single sharp peak

  • Endotoxin: <0.005 EU/μg protein (below level of detection)

  • Recovery from stock vial:  >95%

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 A PLUS is as biologically active as activin A protein from an alternative supplier

Activin A PLUS bioactivity graph, Qkine activin A PLUS activity is the same as the alternative supplier protein

Activin A activity was determined using the activin-responsive firefly luciferase reporter assay in stably transfected HEK293T cells. Cells were treated in triplicate with a serial dilution of Qkine activin A PLUS (Qk005, green) or alternative supplier activin A (supplier B, black).

Protein background

Activin A is a member of the TGFβ superfamily of growth factors used in stem cell differentiation and maintenance.  Activin A PLUS™, an engineered optimized form of activin A, incorporates an N-terminal truncation to remove a disulfide-linked extension. The resulting protein can be manufactured at extremely consistent high yield with no observed changes in bioactivity compared to the wild-type. This form is particularly suitable for large scale stem cell culture processes.

Activin A is involved in regulation of embryogenesis, development of the reproductive system, wound healing and regulation of immune responses in vivo. The activity of activin A is regulated by the high-affinity inhibitor, follistatin [1], and inhibins.  Activins are disulfide-linked homo- and heterodimers of four inhibin β chains. The best characterized are activin A and activin B, homodimers of inhibin βA and inhibin βB respectively. Activins, like all other members in the TGF-β superfamily, are synthesized as larger precursors consisting of an N-terminal signal peptide, a pro-domain of 250–350 residues and a highly conserved mature domain. The pro-domain, which is cleaved off in the mature protein, has important roles in the biosynthesis, stabilization, transportation and signalling of the growth factors [2].

[1] Harrington, A. E. et al. Structural basis for the inhibition of activin signalling by follistatin. EMBO J. 25, 1035–1045 (2006). doi/10.1038/sj.emboj.7601000

[2] Wang, X., Fischer, G. & Hyvönen, M. Structure and activation of pro-activin A. (2016). doi:10.1038/ncomms12052

[3] Pauklin, S. & Vallier, L. Activin/Nodal signalling in stem cells. Development 142, 607–19 (2015). doi.org/10.1242/dev.091769

[4] D’Amour, K. A. et al. Efficient differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to definitive endoderm. Nat. Biotechnol. 23, 1534–1541 (2005). doi.org/10.1038/nbt1163

Publications using recombinant human activin A PLUS™ protein (Qk005)

Capture of Mouse and Human Stem Cells with Features of Formative Pluripotency.
In Cell Stem Cells on 8 March 2021 by Kinoshita, M. et al.

Our products are for research use only and not for diagnostic or therapeutic use.  Products are not for resale.

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What others are saying

  1. 2 out of 2 people found this helpful
    tianmingwu

    Potent and stable Activin A PLUS & FGF2-G3

    tianmingwu

    We were seeking for a good quality replacement for mammalian cell host human growth factors and glad that we chose Qkine. The Activin A PLUS and FGF2-G3 performed better for H9-hESC self-renewal and primitive germ layer differentiation.

    Upvote if this was helpful (2) Downvote if this was not helpful (0) Flag for removal

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