Fibroblast Growth Factor-Basic, human

Fibroblast growth factor-basic (FGF-Basic) is found in basement membranes and sub-endothelial extracellular matrix. FGF-Basic is induced early in the development of the embryo where it is necessary (but not sufficient) for pluripotency and self-renewal of embryonic stem cells (ESC) and lineage defined stem cells; wherein it functions to support proliferation and inhibit differentiation. Self-renewal of hESC depends upon activation of the Activin/Nodal/Smad2,3 branch and suppression of the BMP/GDF/Smad5 branch of the TGFβ-family cell signaling program. FGF-Basic is a competence factor for Nodal support of pluripotency. Activin-A is necessary and sufficient to maintain stemness. It induces the expression of both Nodal and FGF-Basic in human ES cells.

Fibroblast growth factor-basic (FGF-Basic) is required for the maintenance of human embryonic stem cells in culture, and various other stem cell lines, such as mesenchymal stem (stroma) cells (MSC).

Lyophilized from 0.2 μm filtered solution in 20 mM Tris and 1 M NaCl, pH 7.0, containing 50 μg bovine serum albumin per 1 μg BFGF.

The bioactivity of FGF-Basic was measured in a fluorometric assay using the redox sensitive dye, Resazurin.