Meet us next:   ELRIG UK 2025 – 20 March  ●  IBD Innovate 2025 – 9-10 April  ●  NIH Spring Vendor Exhibit 2025 – 24 April  ●  AACR Annual Meeting 2025 – 27-30 April  ●  ISCT Conference 2025 – 7-9 May  ●  more on our events calendar

Recombinant human IGF-1 protein

QK047

Brand: Qkine

Human insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) protein is used in the maintenance of human pluripotent stem cells (IPSC) and is necessary for cell growth in the absence of insulin. IGF-1 promotes the proliferation of many cell types, including embryonic stem cells (ESC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC).

Qkine IGF-1 is a highly pure and bioactive 8 kDa protein, Qkine growth factors are animal origin-free (AOF) and carrier-protein free (CF) for consistent stem cell culture.

Qkine 3-for-2 product campaign

Currency: 

Product name Catalog number Pack size Price Price (USD) Price (GBP) Price (EUR)
Recombinant human IGF-1 protein, 100 µg QK047-0100 100 µg (select above) $ 80.00 £ 60.00 € 71.00
Recombinant human IGF-1 protein, 500 µg QK047-0500 500 µg (select above) $ 195.00 £ 140.00 € 164.00
Recombinant human IGF-1 protein, 1000 µg QK047-1000 1000 µg (select above) $ 260.00 £ 190.00 € 222.00

Note: prices shown do not include shipping and handling charges.

Qkine company name and logo are the property of Qkine Ltd. UK.

Alternative protein names
Insulin-like Growth Factor-I, Somatamedin-C, Mechano Growth Factor (MGF)
Species reactivity

human

species similarity:
mouse – 94%
rat – 96%
porcine – 100%
bovine – 100%

Frequently used together with:

Summary

  • High purity human IGF-1 protein (Uniprot: P05019)
  • >98%, by SDS-PAGE quantitative densitometry
  • 8 kDa
  • Expressed in E. coli.
  • Animal origin-free (AOF) and carrier protein-free.
  • Manufactured in Qkine's Cambridge, UK laboratories
  • Lyophilized from acetonitrile, TFA
  • Resuspend in water at >100 µg/ml, prepare single use aliquots, add carrier protein if desired and store frozen at -20°C or -80°C
Handling and Storage FAQ

Featured applications

  • Maintenance of pluripotency in human iPSC
  • Cell culture media optimisation and replacement of insulin in defined media

Bioactivity

Human LIF Qk036 protein bioactivity lot #14293

IGF-1 activity was determined using the Promega serum response element luciferase reporter assay (*) in transfected MCF-7 cells. EC50 = 3.5 ng/ml (0.45 nM). Cells are treated in triplicate with a serial dilution of IGF-1 for 4 hours. Firefly luciferase activity is measured and normalized to the control Renilla luciferase activity. Data from Qk047 lot #104331. *Promega pGL4.33[luc2P/SRE/Hygro] #E1340

 

Purity

Human LIF Qk036 protein purity SDS-PAGE lot #14293

IGF-1 protein migrates as a single band at 10 kDa in non-reducing (NR) conditions and upon reduction (R).  No contaminating protein bands are visible. Purified recombinant protein (3 µg) was resolved using 18% w/v SDS-PAGE in reduced (+β-mercaptothanol, R) and non-reduced (NR) conditions and stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250.  Data from Qk047 batch #104331.

Further quality assays

  • Mass spectrometry: single species with expected mass
  • Analytical reversed-phase: single sharp peak
  • Endotoxin: <0.005 EU/μg protein (below level of detection)
  • Recovery from stock vial >95%

Qkine IGF-1 is stable and bioactive in conditioned media for 7 days

A
SDS-page gel showing IGF-1 is stable over 7 days

B

Stability and bioactivity of Qkine IGF-1 (Qk047). SDS-PAGE of recombinant IGF-1 (A), protein was not degraded when incubated in HEK293T conditioned media for 7 days. Bioactivity was determined using an IGF-1-responsive firefly luciferase reporter assay (B). Transfected HEK293T cells were treated in triplicate for 4 hours with a serial dilution of IGF-1 which had been pre-incubated in conditioned media for 7 days. Firefly luciferase activity was measured and normalised to the control Renilla luciferase activity.

Protein background

The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are a family of proteins with a similar structure to insulin. IGF-1 has an A and B chain connected by disulphide bonds, its similarity to insulin means it can bind with low affinity to the insulin receptor [1]. IGF-1 is a primary mediator of growth hormone (GH), with growth-promoting effects on most cells and tissues including skeletal muscle, cartilage, bone, liver, kidney, nerve, skin, hematopoietic, and lung [1]. IGF-1 exerts its biological effect through binding to the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R), its effect is modulated through interaction with a group of binding proteins (IGFBPs), which tend to inhibit the effect of IGF-1 [2]. Through IGF1R the Ras-MAPK and PI3 kinase signaling pathways are activated leading to increased cell proliferation and survival [2].

IGF-1 can be used to support maintenance of human embryonic stem cell (ESC) [3] and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) cultures [3, 4].

Background references

  1. Z. Laron. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1): a growth hormone. Mol Pathol. 2001 Oct;54(5):311-6. doi: 10.1136/mp.54.5.311
  2. H. Werner. The IGF1 Signaling Pathway: From Basic Concepts to Therapeutic Opportunities. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023; 24(19):14882. doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914882
  3. L. Wang, T.C. Schulz, E. S. Sherrer, D. S. Dauphin, S. Shin, A. M. Nelson, C. B. Ware, M. Zhan, C. Z. Song, X. Chen, S. N. Brimble, A. McLean, M. J. Galeano, E. W. Uhl, K. A. D’Amour, J. D. Chesnut, M. S. Rao, C. A. Blau and A. J. Robins. Self-renewal of human embryonic stem cells requires insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor and ERBB2 receptor signaling. Blood 2007 Dec 1;110(12):4111-9. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-03-082586
  4. A. Youssef, D. Aboalola and V. K. Han. The Roles of Insulin-Like Growth Factors in Mesenchymal Stem Cell Niche. Stem Cells Int. (2017) 9453108. doi: 10.1155/2017/9453108