Description
Storage
Human TGF-α Recombinant Protein is supplied as lyophilized material that is very stable at -20°C. It is recommended to reconstitute with sterile water at a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml which can be further diluted in aqueous solutions as needed. Addition of a carrier protein (0.1% HSA or BSA) is recommended for long-term storage. Once in solution, store at 4°C and use within 1 month, or store at -20ºC to -80ºC and use within 3 months to prevent loss of potency. Aliquot to avoid multiple freeze/thaw cycles if storing reconstituted material at -20ºC to -80ºC.
Source / Purification
Recombinant human TGF-α was expressed in Balb/c-3T3 cells and is supplied in a lyophilized form.
Background
Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, sharing the same receptor, EGFR, and regulating cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation (1). Members of the family share an EGF-like domain of 45-60 amino acids characterized by the conservation of six regularly spaced cysteines, forming three disulfide bonds that function as their receptor binding domain. TGF-alpha was initially discovered in the media of retrovirally transformed fibroblasts, and its name comes from its ability to induce transformation in cultured fibroblasts (2). This transforming activity was later shown to require TGF-beta, which potentiates the activity of TGF-alpha through a separate receptor (3). Soluble TGF-alpha is released from its membrane-bound precursor, pro-TGF-alpha, following protolytic cleavage, but the membrane bound precursor is still able to bind and activate EGFR (4). Binding of soluble or membrane bound TGF-alpha to EGFR leads to receptor dimerization, tyrosine autophosphorylation, and activation of downstream signaling components. TGF-alpha and related peptides play an important role in the progression of cancer as well as in neuropathological processes (5,6).
