ED 50 < 0.5 µg/ml, measured by a cell proliferation assay using 3T3 cells, corresponding to a specific activity of > 2.0 × 10 3 units/mg.

FGF-18 Protein, Rat, Recombinant is expressed in E. coli. The accession number is O88182.

Rat

E. coli

zFGF5,Fibroblast Growth Factor-18,FGFI,FGF18

Glu28-Arg199

> 95% as determined by SDS-PAGE; > 95% as determined by HPLC

Reconstitute the lyophilized protein in sterile deionized water. The product concentration should not be less than 100 μg/ml. Before opening, centrifuge the tube to collect powder at the bottom. After adding the reconstitution buffer, avoid vortexing or pipetting for mixing.

Upon receiving, this product remains stable for up to 6 months at lower than -70°C. Upon reconstitution, the product should be stable for up to 1 week at 4°C or up to 3 months at -20°C. For long term storage it is recommended that a carrier protein (example 0.1% BSA) be added. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 18 (FGF-18) is a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to the heparin-binding FGF family, which has 23 different members. Structurally, FGF-18 is closely related to FGF-8 and FGF-17. Like other FGFs, FGF-18 can bind to different FGF receptors in vivo. FGF-18 is expressed in various tissues and has multiple functions: during long bone growth, FGF-18 is expressed in perichondrium and developing joints, and regulates bone formation by inhibiting chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation; FGF-18 knock-out mice survive embryonic development, but exhibit skeletal abnormalities and die in the early neonatal period. FGF-18 also induces ectopic cartilage formation in the lung, and alters the morphology of the pulmonary mesenchyma.