Hu Recom FGF-8A, 10 µg

Manufactured by STEMCELL Technologies, this laboratory reagent is a human recombinant form of Fibroblast Growth Factor 8A (FGF-8A). The protein is described by the manufacturer as activating Ras/MAPK signaling, which leads to cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis.

The biological activity of Human Recombinant FGF-8A was assessed by the manufacturer using a proliferation assay with 3T3 cells in the presence of 1 μg/ml of heparin, with cell proliferation measured by a fluorometric assay method. The EC50 is defined as the effective concentration of the growth factor at which cell proliferation is at 50% of maximum; in the cited example the EC50 is less than 500 ng/mL. For purity analysis, 2 μg of the protein was resolved with SDS-PAGE under reducing (+) and non-reducing (-) conditions and visualized by Coomassie Blue staining.

The product is indicated for use in research workflows described by the manufacturer, including applications involving defined animal component-free medium for the differentiation of human ESCs and iPSCs to definitive endoderm, and defined, serum-free medium for neural induction of human ES and iPS cells. According to the safety data sheet, the material is supplied as a solid and is not classified as a hazardous substance or mixture according to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS). The supplier is STEMCELL Technologies Canada Inc., based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and storage conditions are specified in the accompanying Product Information Sheet.