Recombinant Bovine BTC

Bovine Betacellulin (BTC), a member of the EGF family, is an 80 amino acid heparin-binding protein. Like other members of the EGF family, it is synthesized as a transmembrane precursor. The soluble cytokine, containing one EGF structural motif, is released by proteolytic cleavage. BTC can bind to the EGF receptor (ErbB-1) which then dimerizes with another member of the ErbB receptor family to signal through the tyrosine kinase pathway. BTC is a potent mitogen for Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts, retinal pigment epithelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells and is the only member of the EGF family to stimulate insulin secretion in pancreatic b cells.

Lyophilized from 0.05 M acetic acid + 0.05% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid and stored under dry nitrogen at a slight vacuum (ca.25 kPa)

See Protocol #1500