Recombinant human activin AC protein (Qk128)
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 AC is expressed in liver, testis and prostate, formation of the dimer has been shown to decrease the activin of activin A and reduce activin signaling.
Qkine animal origin-free recombinant human activin AC heterodimer will be available soon, contact ryan.weber@matriqx.com for updates and pre-orders.
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
Buy online with secure credit card or purchase order. For any questions, please email ryan.weber@matriqx.com
Summary:
>98%, by SDS-PAGE quantitative densitometry
Animal origin-free (AOF) and carrier protein-free
Expressed in E. coli
Manufactured in our Cambridge, UK laboratories
Featured applications:
Cancer research
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.
Protein 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, 2]. 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 [1, 2]. 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 [3]. Activins activate the SMAD2/3 pathway through the type 1 activin receptors ALK4 and ALK7.
Activin C and activin AC have been shown to activate the SMAD2/3 pathway through ALK7 and in tissues with high ALK7 expression, such as adipocytes are highly responsive to activin C [2]. Activin C has also been shown to be resistant to follistatin, an extracellular antagonist of activin signaling [2, 4].
In prostate cancer activin C may be reduced in malignant cells whilst activin B increased, indicating a potential differential role for these activins in prostate cancer and the diagnosis of malignancy [1]. Others have identified a regulatory role for activin C, in LNCaP cells, activin C reduced activin A bioactivity [5]. Overexpression of activin C in mice leads to disease in the testis, liver, and prostate. Activin C and E are abundantly expressed in the liver [6] and overexpression of activin C prevented activin A controlled hepatocyte turnover [5]. Although not essential for liver development, activin C promotes cell growth and survival in hepatocytes in a mechanism distinct to activin A signaling [6].
Additional resources
FAQ
Activin AC is a heterodimer of A and C 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.
Activin AC is highly expressed in the liver, testis and prostate.
Yes, activins are cytokines.
The INHBC gene codes for activin C, also known as inhibin beta C.
Activins bind to type 1 activin receptors ALK4 and ALK7.
Activin receptor binding activates the SMAD2/3 pathway; activin AC reduces signaling compared to activin AA.
Activins activate the canonical pathways (Smads) and non-canonical pathways (MAPK signaling) both regulate gene transcription involved in cell survival and proliferation.
Recombinant activin AC is used in the study of several cancers, including prostate cancer.
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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