Recombinant Human SCF Protein

Stem Cell Factor, also known as SCF, kit-ligand, KL, steel factor, KITLG, FPH2, KL-1, Kitl, MGF, SCF, SF, or SHEP7, is a dimeric molecule that exerts its biological functions by binding to and activating the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Kit. Activation of c-Kit leads to its autophosphorylation and initiation of signal transduction. Signaling proteins are recruited to activated c-Kit by certain interaction domains that specifically bind to phosphorylated tyrosine residues in the intracellular region of c-Kit. Binding of SCF to C-kit induces receptor dimerization and autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues in the cytoplasmic domain. Tyrosine phosphorylation initiates multiple signaling pathways including RAS, PI3 kinase, Src, and JAK/STAT. However, SCF is a versatile factor in the differentiation of many specific cell types like spermatogonial stem cells and megakaryocyte progenitors. Apart from differentiation, SCF also can maintain stemness in cells. For clinical application, SCF is used in combination with other cytokines to generate myeloid-derived suppressor cells from human umbilical cord blood. SCF is also used to generate T cells for cell-based therapies, drug screening and disease modeling. In regenerative studies, SCF is applied in wound healing hydrogel as a means of increasing its adhesion strength and tissue regeneration.