Qkine human Fibroblast Growth Factor-18 is as biologically active as a comparable alternative supplier protein

Fibroblast Growth Factor 18 (FGF-18), a member of the FGF family, characterized by its heparin-binding properties plays a significant role in regulating diverse biological processes such as embryonic development, skeletal and bone development, cartilage maintenance, angiogenesis and tissue repair.

FGF-18 is widely used to support cell culture maintenance and proliferation, promote chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of stem cells and stimulate angiogenesis.

Qkine FGF-18 (Qk069) is animal origin-free, carrier protein-free and tag-free to ensure high and consistent bioactivity.

• Qkine FGF-18 (Qk069) was bioactive in a quantitative luciferase assay with EC50 of 8.76 ng/ml (0.43 nM).
• This was comparable to FGF-18 from an alternative supplier, which also had an EC50 of 9.45 pg/ml (0.47 nM).

Quantitative luciferase reporter assay shows equivalent bioactivity of Qkine FGF-18 (Qk069, green) and alternative supplier FGF-18 (Supplier B black). HEK293T reporter cells were treated in triplicate with a serial dilution of FGF-18 for 3 hours. Firefly luciferase activity is measured and normalized to control Renilla luciferase activity.

The bioactivity comparison demonstrates that Qkine FGF-18 (Qk069) has equivalent bioactivity to FGF-18 from an alternative major supplier. Qkine FGF-18 (Qk069) has the advantage of being highly pure and animal origin-free, giving batch-to-batch consistency in bioactivity for long-term reproducible culture and differentiation of stem cells.