Introduction
Midkine (MK) is a growth factor induced by retinoic acid. It consists of 121 amino acids, including 10 cysteine residues that form disulfide bonds. MK is primarily expressed during embryonic development and plays a role in various processes like neurogenesis, cell migration, organ development, and interactions between mesoderm and epithelium. In adults, MK expression decreases but can be reactivated in certain cancers, where it promotes tumor growth and blood vessel formation. MK attracts neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) and triggers their activation by increasing intracellular calcium levels. It also stimulates the release of histamine from mast cells in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, MK promotes the production of collagen and glycosaminoglycans, which are essential components of the extracellular matrix.
Description
Recombinant Human Midkine, produced in E. coli, is a single, non-glycosylated polypeptide chain comprising 123 amino acids. It has a molecular weight of 13.4 kDa. This Midkine product is purified using proprietary chromatographic techniques.
Physical Appearance
White, lyophilized powder, sterile-filtered.
Formulation
Lyophilized from a 0.2 µm filtered concentrated solution in 1xPBS, with a pH of 7.4.
Solubility
To reconstitute the lyophilized Midkine, it is recommended to dissolve it in sterile 18 MΩ-cm H₂O at a concentration of at least 100 µg/ml. The resulting solution can then be further diluted in other aqueous solutions as needed.
Stability
Lyophilized Midkine 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, Midkine should be stored at 4°C for a period of 2-7 days. For extended storage, adding a carrier protein like HSA or BSA at a concentration of 0.1% is advisable. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Purity
The purity of this product is greater than 95%, 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 biological activity is assessed by measuring its ability to attract human neutrophils. This is done within a concentration range of 0.1-10 ng/ml, which corresponds to a specific activity of 100,000-10,000,000 IU/mg.
Synonyms
NEGF-2, Neurite Growth-Promoting Factor 2, MK, Neurite outgrowth-promoting protein, Midgestation and kidney protein, Amphiregulin-associated protein, ARAP, Neurite outgrowth-promoting factor 2, FLJ27379, Midkine, MK1, NEGF2.
Amino Acid Sequence
VAKKKDKVKK GGPGSECAEW AWGPCTPSSK DCGVGFREGT CGAQTQRIRC RVPCNWKKEF GADCKYKFEN WGACDGGTGT KVRQGTLKKA RYNAQCQETI RVTKPCTPKT KAKAKAKKGK GKD.