Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 (VEGFR-1), also known as Flt-1, is a receptor tyrosine kinase that plays a crucial role in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. It is one of the receptors for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), which is a signal protein that stimulates the formation of blood vessels. The D5 domain of VEGFR-1 is particularly significant as it is involved in the binding of VEGF.
VEGFR-1 is composed of several domains, including seven immunoglobulin-like domains in its extracellular region, a single transmembrane helix, and an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain. The D5 domain is one of these extracellular immunoglobulin-like domains and is critical for the receptor’s ability to bind VEGF.
VEGFR-1 acts as a decoy receptor, sequestering VEGF and preventing it from binding to VEGFR-2, which is more directly involved in promoting angiogenesis. This regulatory mechanism is essential for maintaining the balance of angiogenic signals in the body.
Recombinant human VEGFR-1 D5 is produced using recombinant DNA technology, which involves cloning the gene encoding the D5 domain into an expression vector, introducing this vector into a host cell (such as E. coli or CHO cells), and then purifying the expressed protein. This recombinant protein can be used in various research and therapeutic applications.
The production of recombinant VEGFR-1 D5 typically involves the following steps: