EGF Mouse Protein
Description
Molecular Structure and Production
EGF Mouse Protein is synthesized via recombinant DNA technology in E. coli, ensuring high purity (>95%) and animal origin-free production . Key structural features include:
Biological Functions and Mechanisms
EGF Mouse Protein activates EGFR, a 170 kDa receptor tyrosine kinase, initiating downstream signaling cascades such as:
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MAPK/ERK pathway: Regulates cell cycle progression and differentiation .
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PI3K/Akt pathway: Enhances cell survival and inhibits apoptosis .
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NF-κB pathway: Modulates inflammatory responses and tissue repair .
Key Applications in Research:
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Stem Cell Maintenance: Sustains pluripotency in embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells .
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Organoid Culture: Supports intestinal, hepatic, and pancreatic organoid growth .
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Muscle Regeneration: Restores muscle strength in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) mouse models by enhancing asymmetric stem cell division .
3.1. Muscle Regeneration in DMD
3.2. Tissue-Specific Hypomorphism
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Humanized EGFR Mice: Exhibited rescued neurodegeneration but developed heart hypertrophy and bone abnormalities due to tissue-specific EGFR expression .
3.3. Cancer and Tissue Engineering
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Tumor Microenvironment: EGF promotes chemoresistance and radiation tolerance in cancer cells .
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Scaffold Integration: Enhances engineered tissue maturation for transplantation .
Future Directions and Challenges
Product Specs
Product Science Overview
EGF is produced by epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and many other cell types . It is initially synthesized as a large transmembrane precursor with a molecular weight of approximately 130,000 . Through proteolysis, this precursor is cleaved to generate a low molecular weight soluble form of EGF, which is biologically active .
EGF exerts its effects by binding to the EGF receptor (EGFR), also known as HER1 or ErbB1 . This binding induces receptor dimerization, either as homodimers or heterodimers with other members of the HER/ErbB family . The activation of EGFR triggers several downstream signaling pathways, including the MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and Stat5 pathways . These pathways are involved in regulating various cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and survival .
Recombinant mouse EGF (mEGF) is commonly produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and is supplied in a lyophilized form . The bioactivity of recombinant mEGF is typically assessed using cell proliferation assays, such as those involving BALB/c 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells . The effective dose (ED50) for mEGF in these assays is usually less than or equal to 0.25 ng/mL .
EGF and its receptors are involved in many cancers and are targets for therapeutic intervention . The EGF family includes several other members, such as TGF-alpha, amphiregulin (AR), betacellulin (BTC), epiregulin (EPR), heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), epigen, and the neuregulins (NRG)-1 through -6 . These growth factors share structural similarities and often have overlapping biological functions.
Recombinant mouse EGF is widely used in cell culture, differentiation studies, and functional assays . It is an essential component of many cell culture media formulations and is used to study the mechanisms of cell growth and differentiation.
Recombinant mouse EGF is typically supplied as a lyophilized powder and should be reconstituted with sterile water or PBS at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL . For long-term storage, it is recommended to aliquot the reconstituted solution and store it at -20°C to -80°C to prevent loss of potency . Avoid multiple freeze-thaw cycles to maintain the stability and activity of the protein .
