Qkine animal origin-free TGF-β1 PLUS is more bioactive than mammalian expressed alternatives

Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) is a common component of human pluripotency maintenance media. However, as TGF-β1 is a highly complex protein, it is difficult to manufacture in microbial expression systems.

TGF-β1 PLUS is the world’s first animal origin-free TGF-β1, manufactured for highly reproducible results.

• TGF-β1 PLUS (Qk010) was bioactive in a quantitative luciferase assay with an EC50 of 1.4 pM (lots #011 and #012).
• This was more bioactive compared to mammalian expressed TGF-β1 from alternative suppliers, which had EC50s of 3.5 pM (supplier 1) and 38 pM (supplier 2)

Qkine TGF-β1 PLUS was found to be more bioactive than TGF- β1 from alternative suppliers. Bioactivity was determined using a TGF-β1-responsive (CAGA) firefly luciferase reporter in transiently transfected HEK293T cells. Cells were treated with a serial dilution of TGF-β1 PLUS (Qk010, green) or TGF-β1 from two alternative suppliers (black) for 6 hours in triplicate. Firefly luciferase activity was measured and normalized to the control, Renilla luciferase.

TGF-β1 PLUS shows exceptional lot-to-lot consistency, providing a reliable source of highly active TGF-β1. Qkine animal origin-free TGF-β1 PLUS was shown to be more bioactive than mammalian expressed alternatives. Qkine recombinant proteins are more cost effective, highly pure and animal origin-free, giving exceptional lot-to-lot consistency in bioactivity for long-term reproducible culture of stem cells.