Activin A (human), animal-free recombinant

Product Description: Activin A, a member of the TGF-beta family, showcases diverse biological functions, including the regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation, as well as the promotion of neuronal survival. Its elevated presence in colorectal tumors in humans and in postmenopausal women has been linked to colorectal and breast cancers, respectively. Inhibins and follistatin, a diffusible TGF-beta antagonist, can counteract the biological effects of Activin A. This molecule binds to two forms of activin receptor type I (Act RI-A and Act RI-B) and two forms of activin receptor type II (Act RII-A and Act RII-B). Activins can exist as homodimers or heterodimers of distinct beta subunits. Initially synthesized as precursor proteins, they feature an amino terminal propeptide that is cleaved to unveil the C-terminal bioactive ligand. Recombinant Human/Murine/Rat Activin A manifests as a 26.0 kDa disulfide-linked homodimer comprising two betaA chains, each composed of 116 amino acid residues. . Amino acid sequence: GLECDGKVNI CCKKQFFVSF KDIGWNDWII APSGYHANYC EGECPSHIAG TSGSSLSFHS TVINHYRMRG HSPFANLKSC CVPTKLRPMS MLYYDDGQNI IKKDIQNMIV EECGCS. Endotoxin concentration: <0.1 EU/µg. Activity: Determined by its ability to inhibit the proliferation of mouse MPC-11 cells. The expected ED50 is = 2.0 ng/ml, corresponding to a specific activity of > 5 x 10^5 units/mg. Contains no preservative. Protein function: Inhibins and activins inhibit and activate, respectively, the secretion of follitropin by the pituitary gland. Inhibins/activins are involved in regulating a number of diverse functions such as hypothalamic and pituitary hormone secretion, gonadal hormone secretion, germ cell development and maturation, erythroid differentiation, insulin secretion, nerve cell survival, embryonic axial development or bone growth, depending on their subunit composition. Inhibins appear to oppose the functions of activins. [The UniProt Consortium]