Activin A human

General description
Activins are homodimers or heterodimers of the various β subunit isoforms, belonging to the TGFβ family. Mature Activin A has two 116 amino acids residues βA subunits (βA-βA). Activin exhibits a wide range of biological activities, including mesoderm induction, neural cell differentiation, bone remodelling, haematopoiesis, and reproductive physiology. Activins plays a key role in the production and regulation of hormones such as FSH, LH, GnRH and ACTH. Cells known to express Activin A include fibroblasts, endothelial cells, hepatocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages, keratinocytes, osteoclasts, bone marrow monocytes, prostatic epithelium, neurons, chondrocytes, osteoblasts, Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, and ovarian granulosa cells.
As with other members of the super-family, Activins interact with two types of cell surface trans-membrane receptors (Types I and II) which have intrinsic serine/threonine kinase activities in their cytoplasmic domains, Activin type 1 receptors, ACVR1, ACVR1B, ACVR1C and Activin type 2 receptors, ACVR2A, ACVR2B. The biological activity of Activin A can be neutralized by inhibins and by the diffusible TGF-B antagonist, Follistatin.
Physical form
Lyophilized from a Tris HCl 0.05 M buffer at pH 7.4
Preparation Note
Lyophilized protein should be reconstituted in water to a concentration of 50 ng /μl. Due to the protein nature, dimmers and multimers may be observed.
Analysis Note
The biological activity of Activin A is measured by its ability to inhibit mouse plasmacytoma cell line (MPC-11) cells proliferation.
ED50: ≤ 5 ng/mL
Other Notes
Extinction Coefficient: E0.1% = 1.27 (A 280 nm)
p.I: 7.27