Recombinant Human Activin A

General description

Activin A is a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to the TGF-β superfamily that regulates embryonic development, cell differentiation, and tissue homeostasis. It is essential for mesendoderm induction, germ layer specification, and maintenance of pluripotency in stem cell cultures. Recombinant Human Activin A Protein (Y00101N) is expressed from mammalian cells. It contains AA Gly 311 - Ser 426 (Accession # P08476), and is widely used in advanced cell culture, developmental biology, and regenerative medicine research.

Application

· Definitive Endoderm Induction — Drives efficient differentiation of pluripotent stem cells toward definitive endoderm lineage.

· Hepatocyte and Pancreatic Differentiation — Supports lineage specification toward liver and pancreatic cell fates.

· Mesendoderm Formation — Promotes primitive streak and mesendodermal progenitor development.

· Pluripotency Maintenance — Used in combination with FGF-2 for naive stem cell culture conditions.

· Serum-Free Culture Systems — Suitable for chemically defined and xeno-free cell culture media.

Product Specifications

Stability and Reconstitution

36 months at -20°C to -80°C in lyophilized state;

6 months at -20°C to -80°C under sterile conditions after reconstitution;

7-10 days at 2°C to 8°C under sterile conditions after reconstitution;

Use a manual defrost freezer and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

It is recommended to redissolve in sterile deionized water.

Backgroud

Activin A, also known as INHBA or EDF, is a disulfide-linked homodimer of inhibin beta-A subunits. It signals through heteromeric complexes of type I (ALK4/ACVR1B) and type II (ACVR2A/ACVR2B) serine/threonine kinase receptors, activating SMAD2/3-dependent transcriptional programs. Activin A was originally characterized as a regulator of follicle-stimulating hormone secretion but has emerged as a fundamental morphogen in embryonic patterning and stem cell biology. In directed differentiation protocols, Activin A serves as the primary inducer of definitive endoderm, the precursor population for hepatocytes, pancreatic beta cells, and intestinal epithelium. Its ability to specify germ layer identity while maintaining cell viability makes it indispensable for regenerative medicine applications.

Q&A

Q1:  What is Activin A mainly used for?

Activin A is primarily used for definitive endoderm induction, hepatocyte and pancreatic differentiation, mesendoderm formation, and pluripotency maintenance.

Q2: Is this Activin A suitable for serum-free culture systems?

Yes. EastMabBio recombinant Activin A is compatible with serum-free, xeno-free, and chemically defined media systems.

Q3: How should recombinant Activin A be stored?

Lyophilized protein should be stored at -20°C or below. After reconstitution, aliquot and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Q4: What shipping conditions are used?

Products are shipped on dry ice with validated cold-chain packaging to maintain stability during international transportation.

Q5: Do you provide QC documents?

Yes. COA, MSDS, TSE-BSE statements, endotoxin reports, bioactivity data, and additional QC documentation are available upon request.