Midkine Rat
Greater than 97.0% as determined by:
(a) Analysis by RP-HPLC.
(b) Analysis by SDS-PAGE.
Description
The Midkine Rat is purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
Product Specs
Product Science Overview
Midkine, also known as MK, is a small, secreted heparin-binding protein that plays a crucial role in various biological processes. It is highly expressed during embryonic and fetal development and is involved in cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation . Midkine belongs to the neurotrophic and developmentally-regulated heparin-binding molecules family and is encoded by the MDK gene .
Midkine consists of five intrachain disulfide bonds that hold two domains together, with each domain containing three antiparallel beta-sheets . This structure allows Midkine to interact with multiple cell surface receptors, promoting growth and development. In the adult central nervous system, Midkine is upregulated following various types of experimental injury and exhibits neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties .
Midkine expression is highly regulated and is most prominent during mid-gestation in many organs, including the kidneys, heart, and brain . In adults, its expression is induced following injury or in various forms of cancer, where it mediates hypoxic or inflammatory-driven cell response pathways . The protein’s expression pattern and regulatory mechanisms make it a potential therapeutic target for developmental brain injuries and other conditions.
Recombinant Rat Midkine is produced using Escherichia coli (E. coli) expression systems. The protein is expressed as a single non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 120 amino acids, with a molecular weight of approximately 13.2 kDa . The recombinant protein is purified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and validated for bioactivity through various assays .
Recombinant Midkine is used in various research applications due to its biological activity. It has been shown to ameliorate cell death, modulate glial reactivity, and enhance the proliferation and migration of neural precursor cells . The protein’s bioactivity is determined through chemotaxis bioassays using human neutrophils, with effective concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 ng/ml .
