Epidermal Growth Factor from murine submaxillary gland

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) from murine submaxillary gland has been used as a mitogen, triggering the cell to commence mitosis, in a variety of cell lines. In tissue cultures, EGF acts to reduce or eliminate the requirement for serum and can be used in conjunction with other media additives and hormone. The working concentration for EGF is generally 0.1-10 ng/mL.

EGF is mitogenic for a variety of epidermal and epithelial cells, including fibroblasts, glial cells, vascular and corneal endothelial cells, bovine granulosa, HeLa cells, SV40-3T3 cells and mammary epithelial cells, rabbit chondrocytes. EGF also plays a biological role in inhibition of gastric acid secretion, support of growth during fetal development and neuromodulation in the central nervous system. Stimulation of ion fluxes, glucose transport, glycolysis, and synthesis of DNA, RNA and proteins are all cellular metabolic effects of EGF.

This product was lyophilized from a solution in 1 mL of 5 mM ammonium acetate at pH 6.5. It should be reconstituted by adding the contents of the vial to a solution containing 0.1-1.0% BSA or 1-10% serum in buffered saline or tissue culture medium.

The biological activity of this product is measured by an ability to stimulate the EGF-responsive mouse BALB/MK cells. The EC₅₀ is defined as the effective concentration of growth factor that elicits a 50% increase in cell growth in a cell based bioassay.

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) is a small mitogenic polypeptide present throughout a large number of tissues and body fluids in many mammalian species. EGF is a member of a growth factor family characterized by 6 conserved cysteine motifs that form three disulfide bonds. Human EGF is an identical molecule to β-urogastrone, a molecule isolated on the basis of its ability to inhibit gastric acid secretion. EGF is structurally homologous to human transforming growth factor-a, and both exert their actions through EGF receptors.

This product should be stored at 2-8°C. After reconstitution, it can be stored at 2-8°C for two weeks, or frozen in aliquots at -20°C for longer periods.