Recombinant human activin A PLUS™ protein (Qk005) Price range: £190.00 through £2,530.00View product
Recombinant human activin A PLUS™ protein (Qk005)
Price range: £190.00 through £2,530.00
Human recombinant activin A PLUS™ protein is an optimized 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.
This protein is also available as GMP compliant Cell Therapy Grade, to enquire email support@qkine.com.
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Price range: £190.00 through £2,530.00
1000 µg will be dispatched as 2 x 500 µg.
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Summary:
- High purity optimized mature domain of human activin A (Uniprot: P08476) – particularly suitable for bulk and scale-up stem cell culture applications
- 24 kDa (dimer)
>98%, by SDS-PAGE quantitative densitometry
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 (Reconstitution solution A) at >50 µg/ml, add carrier protein if desired, prepare single-use aliquots and store frozen at -20 °C (short-term) or -80 °C (long-term)
Featured applications:
Large scale stem cell expansion
Activin A PLUS™ activity was 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.
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
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 A PLUS™ was as bioactive as activin A protein from an alternative supplier. Activin A activity was determined using the activin-responsive firefly luciferase reporter assay in transiently transfected HEK293T cells. Cells were treated in triplicate with a serial dilution of Qkine activin A PLUS™ (Qk005, green) or alternative activin A (Supplier B, black). Firefly luciferase activity was measured and normalized. Data from Qk005 lot #104344.
Activin A activity was determined using the activin-responsive firefly luciferase reporter assay in transiently transfected HEK293T cells. Cells were treated in triplicate with a serial dilution of Qkine activin A (Qk001, green) or activin A PLUS™ (Qk005, black) for 6 hours. Firefly luciferase activity was measured and normalized.
Protein background
Activin A is a member of the TGF-β 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 signaling of the growth factors [2].
Activin A is frequently used for the maintenance of pluripotency of human induced pluripotent stem cells and human embryonic stem cell lines along with fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) [3, 4]. Activin A is also used in various stem cell differentiation protocols. It directs the differentiation into definitive endoderm, precursor to different cell types such as pancreatic and liver cells [5]. Activin A also promotes neural precursor cells and drives astrocytic differentiation with Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) [6]. Moreover, activin A is also involved in mesodermal differentiation to derive muscle, bone, and blood cells [7]. Finally, activin A is often used for the development and maintenance of organoids [8, 9].
Publications using Recombinant human activin A PLUS™ protein (Qk005)
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Opposing Nodal and Wnt signalling activities govern the emergence of the mammalian body plan
Dias A, Pascual-Mas P, Torregrosa-Cortés G et al.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.11.632562 -
Progesterone Receptor Modulates Extraembryonic Mesoderm and Cardiac progenitor Specification during Mouse Gastrulation
Drozd AM, Mariani L, Guo X, Goitea V, Menezes NA and Ferretti E.
DOI: doi: 10.3390/ijms231810307 -
Inhibition of PRC2 enables self-renewal of blastoid-competent naive pluripotent stem cells from chimpanzee
Huang, T et al.
DOI: DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2025.02.002 -
α-Ketoglutarate promotes trophectoderm induction and maturation from naive human embryonic stem cells
Van Nerum, K., Wenzel, A., Argemi-Muntadas, L. et al.
DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41556-025-01658-1 -
A mosaic gastruloid model highlights the developmental stage-specific restriction of cell competition in mammalian pre-gastrulation
Frenster JD, Babin S, Josende Garcia JB et al.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.25.634859 -
Dissecting infant leukemia developmental origins with a hemogenic gastruloid model
Ragusa D, Suen C-W, Cortés GT et al.
DOI: doi: 10.7554/eLife.102324
FAQ
What is the function of the activin A protein?
Activin A is a multifunctional protein. It is involved in regulating embryonic development, cell proliferation, and differentiation. It promotes the patterning and differentiation of various organs, including the development of the mesoderm, neural, and reproductive systems. It is also involved in maintaining homeostasis, regulating immune responses, and wound healing. Finally, it stimulates the release of follicle-stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland.
What does activin A do in cell culture?
Activin A is a critical factor in stem cell culture, commonly used to maintain the pluripotency of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs). It is integral to various stem cell differentiation protocols, guiding the differentiation of the definitive endoderm, neural and mesodermal lineages. Activin A is also commonly utilized in the development and maintenance of organoids.
What are activin A and inhibin A?
Activin A and inhibin A are closely related proteins in the TGF-β superfamily. They share structural similarities but have distinct functions and roles in regulating various physiological processes. Activin A has broader functions beyond reproduction, which include handling embryonic development, stem cell maintenance, and the immune system. Inhibin A, conversely, is more specifically associated with the feedback control of follicle-stimulating hormones in the context of reproductive physiology.
What does activin A bind to?
Activin A binds to activin type I (ALK4 or ALK7) and type II (ActRIIA or ActRIIB) receptors to activate downstream SMAD signalling.
Does activin increase LH?
Yes, activin is involved in a feedback loop that regulates the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH).
What does the activin gene do?
The activin gene family includes several genes that encode different activin subunits, forming various activin isoforms such as Inhibin Beta Subunits (INHBA / INHBB / INHBC / INHBD).
What inhibits activin A?
Follistatin and inhibins tightly regulate activin A activity in a feedback loop.
Special guidance for reconstitution of TGF beta family including activins, BMPs and GDF-15
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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