FK506, 10mg

STEMCELL Technologies supplies FK506 (alternative name Tacrolimus), a macrolide antibiotic with potent immunosuppressive properties. The compound acts as a calcineurin/NFAT pathway inhibitor and binds with high affinity to FK506 binding protein 12 (FKBP-12).

The product is a crystalline solid with a molecular formula of C₄₄H₆₉NO₁₂, a molecular weight of 804.0 g/mol, a purity of ≥ 99%, and a CAS Number of 104987-11-3. The compound has low solubility in aqueous media, is soluble in DMSO at ≤ 20 mM, and is soluble in absolute ethanol at ≤ 35 mM. When used as a cell culture supplement, the stock solution should be diluted into culture medium immediately before use, and the final DMSO concentration should be kept at or below 0.1% to avoid potential cell toxicity.

FK506 is stable for 12 months from the date of receipt when stored at -20°C and protected from prolonged exposure to light; long-term storage should include a desiccant. Published applications include promoting the self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells independent of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and attenuating differentiation following LIF withdrawal, enhancing the expansion rates of several human pluripotent stem cell lines when combined with 1-Azakenpaullone and ID-8, and inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine production by activated T cells.