Recombinant Human TGF-α

Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α), also known as TCGF and MDGF-2, is an acid- and heat-stable protein and member of the EGF family of cytokines. It is thought to be the major autocrine factor controlling growth in epidermal cells (1). TGF-α plays an important role in cell proliferation during embryogenesis and stimulates neural cell proliferation in the adult injured brain (2). It is produced by monocytes, keratinocytes, and various tumor cells. TGF-α binds to the EGF receptor, mediating tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor, and promotes cell-cell adhesion and to cell-cell stimulation (1). It is probably involved in the regeneration of liver tissues (3) and also affects bone formation/remodeling by inhibition of the synthesis of collagen and release of calcium. It has been suggested that TGF-α may act as an autocrine growth factor for the induction or maintenance of malignancy. It is present in high levels in around half of all breast tumors, and these tumors tend to be more aggressive and more likely to spread to the lungs (4). It has been shown that TGF-α can prompt breast cancer cells to make another cytokine called angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), which helps the cells to spread through the bloodstream (5). Human, murine and rat TGF-α are cross-species reactive.

The biological activity of Human Transforming Growth Factor-Alpha is determined by determined by the dose-dependent stimulation of thymidine uptake by BALB/c 3T3 cells. The expected ED₅₀ for this effect is 0.2 ng/ml.

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Val40

Lyophilized

The predicted molecular weight of Recombinant Human TGF-α is Mr 6 kDa.

6

This recombinant protein was lyophilized from a 0.2 μm filtered solution in 30% acetonitrile (CH₃CN) and 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA).

This lyophilized protein is stable for six to twelve months when stored desiccated at -20°C to -70°C. After aseptic reconstitution and addition of a carrier protein such as 0.1% BSA or HSA, this protein may be stored at 2°C to 8°C for one month or at -20°C to -70°C for three months in a manual defrost freezer. Avoid Repeated Freeze Thaw Cycles. See Product Insert for exact lot specific storage instructions.

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1. Anklesaria, P. et al. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 87:3289
2. Loughlin, S. et al. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 97:14686
3. Mead, JE. et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 86:1558
4. Ciardiello, F. et al. (1991) Ann. Oncol. 2:169
5. Minn, AJ. et al. (2005) Nature 436:518