Introduction
Fractalkine exists in two forms: soluble and membrane-bound. The soluble form acts as a chemoattractant for T cells and monocytes, but not neutrophils, while the membrane-bound form facilitates the adhesion of these leukocytes to endothelial cells. This chemokine plays a crucial role in regulating leukocyte adhesion and migration at the endothelium by binding to the CX3CR1 receptor. Human Fractalkine is synthesized as a 373-amino acid protein, characterized by a mucin-like stalk and a chemokine domain. The mucin-like stalk enables its attachment to the cell surface. The gene encoding Fractalkine is located on human chromosome 16, in proximity to genes encoding CC chemokines CCL17 and CCL22.
Description
Recombinant Human Fractalkine, expressed in E. coli, is a single, non-glycosylated polypeptide chain comprising 76 amino acids with a molecular weight of 8638 Daltons. The protein undergoes purification using proprietary chromatographic techniques.
Physical Appearance
White, lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder, sterile and filtered.
Formulation
CX3CL1 is lyophilized from a 0.2 µm filtered solution concentrated to 1.0 mg/ml in a buffer composed of 20mM Phosphate, pH 7.4, and 50mM NaCl.
Solubility
For reconstitution, it is recommended to dissolve the lyophilized CX3CL1 in sterile 18 MΩ-cm H2O to a concentration of at least 100 µg/ml. This solution can then be further diluted in other aqueous solutions as needed.
Stability
Lyophilized CX3CL1 remains stable at room temperature for up to 3 weeks. However, for long-term storage, it is recommended to store it desiccated at a temperature below -18°C. After reconstitution, CX3CL1 should be stored at 4°C for a period of 2-7 days. For extended storage, it is advisable to add a carrier protein such as HSA or BSA (0.1%). Repeated freeze-thaw cycles should be avoided.
Purity
Purity exceeds 97.0% as determined by the following methods:
(a) Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis.
(b) Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis.
Biological Activity
The biological activity of CX3CL1 is evaluated based on its capacity to induce chemotaxis in human T lymphocytes. This assessment is conducted using a concentration range of 5.0-10.0 ng/ml, corresponding to a specific activity of 100,000-200,000 IU/mg.
Synonyms
Fractalkine, CX3CL1, Neurotactin, CX3C membrane-anchored chemokine, Small inducible cytokine D1, NTN, NTT, CXC3, CXC3C, SCYD1, ABCD-3, C3Xkine.
Amino Acid Sequence
QHHGVTKCNITCSKMTSKIPVALLIHYQQNQASCGKRAIILETRQHRLFCADPKEQW VKDAMQHLDRQAAALTRNG.