Bovine Betacellulin

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 beta cells.

This product is a mixture of [Gly¹] bovine betacellulin (50%) and Des [1-4] bovine betacellulin (50%).