Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, 5 mg

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) is supplied by STEMCELL Technologies as a 5 mg vial of a potent phorbol ester that activates protein kinase C (PKC) signaling in cultured cells. This small-molecule activator is widely used in biomedical research to stimulate PKC-dependent pathways, trigger megakaryocyte differentiation from hematopoietic progenitors, and drive monocyte-to-macrophage maturation in vitro.

In immunology workflows, PMA is commonly combined with ionomycin to induce robust T cell activation and cytokine production, making it a useful reagent for intracellular staining and flow cytometry protocols. Researchers also apply PMA to HL-60 and THP-1 leukemic cell lines to induce differentiation along the monocytic and macrophage lineages, and to investigate downstream signaling through NF-kB, MAPK, and AP-1 transcription factors.

The compound is soluble in DMSO and is typically reconstituted as a stock solution before being added to cell culture media at working concentrations in the low nanomolar range. Storage is recommended at -20°C, protected from light, with single-use aliquots prepared to limit freeze-thaw cycles and preserve biological activity for repeated experiments. This product is intended for research use only and is not approved for diagnostic or therapeutic applications.