Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a signal protein that plays a crucial role in the formation of blood vessels. It is part of the platelet-derived growth factor family and is involved in both vasculogenesis (the formation of the embryonic circulatory system) and angiogenesis (the growth of blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature) . VEGF is essential for restoring oxygen supply to tissues when blood circulation is inadequate, such as in hypoxic conditions .
The rat recombinant VEGF, specifically with a His tag, is a version of this protein that has been engineered for research purposes. This recombinant protein is produced in insect cells and contains 129 amino acid residues. It is fused to a His-tag (6x His) at the C-terminal end, which facilitates its purification and detection . Due to glycosylation, VEGF-C migrates as an 18-24 kDa protein in SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions .
VEGF is a glycosylated mitogen that specifically acts on endothelial cells. It has various effects, including:
These properties make VEGF a critical factor in both normal physiological processes and pathological conditions. For instance, it is involved in creating new blood vessels during embryonic development, after injury, and in muscles following exercise . Additionally, VEGF plays a role in diseases such as cancer, where it can contribute to tumor growth and metastasis by promoting blood vessel formation .
The recombinant form of VEGF with a His tag is widely used in research to study its functions and interactions. It is also used in developing therapeutic strategies for diseases involving abnormal blood vessel growth. For example, drugs that inhibit VEGF, such as bevacizumab and ranibizumab, are used to treat cancers and retinal diseases .