Uses
Basic fibroblast growth factor has been used as one of the components of EBM-B (endothelial Basal Medium-2 media, heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, Glutamine-penicillin-streptomycin sulfate and basic fibroblast growth factor) media.
General Description
Bovine bFGF has 146 amino acids. bFGF shares 55% amino acid homology with a second endothelial cell mitogen, acidic FGF (aFGF) (also known as endothelial cell growth factor, ECGF). The amino acid sequence for human bFGF is very similar to the sequence of the bovine protein. The proteins differ only by two amino acids. Both the human and bovine proteins appear to be synthesized initially with an amino-terminal extension of nine residues. bFGF is a potent mitogen for a wide variety of mesoderm- and neuroectoderm- derived cells including fibroblasts, vascular and corneal endothelial cells, myoblasts, chondrocytes, osteoblasts, smooth muscle cells, and glial cells. All cell types that respond to FGFs bear specific FGF cell surface receptors. In addition, bFGF induces blood vessel growth and wound healing in vivo. Other in vivo effects of bFGF are mesodermal induction in early embryos and limb and lens regeneration.
