Introduction
Fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) belongs to the fibroblast growth factor family. These factors exhibit diverse mitogenic and cell survival activities, playing crucial roles in various biological processes. These processes include embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, and tumor progression (growth and invasion). Notably, FGF8 supports androgen-dependent and anchorage-independent growth in mammary tumor cells. Moreover, its overexpression is associated with increased tumor growth and angiogenesis. In adults, FGF8 gene expression is primarily confined to the testes and ovaries. Functionally, FGF8 acts as an embryonic epithelial factor, participating in midbrain and limb development, organogenesis, embryo gastrulation, and left-right axis determination.
Description
Recombinant Mouse FGF-8, produced in E. coli, is a single, non-glycosylated polypeptide chain comprising 246 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 28.1 kDa. The purification of FGF-8 is achieved through proprietary chromatographic techniques.
Physical Appearance
Sterile Filtered White lyophilized powder
Formulation
The FGF-8 protein was lyophilized from a 0.2 µm filtered concentrated solution in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4.
Solubility
For reconstitution, it is recommended to dissolve the lyophilized FGF-8 in sterile 18 MΩ-cm H₂O at a concentration of at least 100 µg/ml. This solution can be further diluted in other aqueous solutions as needed.
Stability
Lyophilized FGF-8 demonstrates stability at room temperature for up to 3 weeks. However, for extended storage, it is advisable to store it desiccated below -18°C. Upon reconstitution, FGF-8 should be stored at 4°C for 2-7 days. For long-term storage, adding a carrier protein like 0.1% HSA or BSA is recommended. It is important to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Purity
The purity is greater than 95.0% as determined by:
(a) Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis.
(b) Sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis.
Biological Activity
The ED50, determined by a dose-dependent cell proliferation assay using NR6R-3T3 mouse fibroblast cells, is less than 25 ng/ml in the presence of 0.1 µg/ml heparin. This corresponds to a specific activity exceeding 4.0 × 10⁴ units/mg.
Synonyms
Fibroblast growth factor 8, FGF-8, Androgen-induced growth factor, AIGF, Heparin-binding growth factor 8, HBGF-8, Fgf8.
Amino Acid Sequence
QVRSAAQKRG PGAGNPADTL GQGHEDRPFG QRSRAGKNFT NPAPNYPEEG SKEQRDSVLP KVTQRHVREQ SLVTDQLSRR LIRTYQLYSR TSGKHVQVLA NKRINAMAED GDPFAKLIVE TDTFGSRVRV RGAETGLYIC MNKKGKLIAK SNGKGKDCVF TEIVLENNYT ALQNAKYEGW YMAFTRKGRP RKGSKTRQHQ REVHFMKRLP RGHHTTEQSL RFEFLNYPPF TRSLRGSQRT WAPEPR.