Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) is a single chain 7 kDa growth-promoting polypeptide originally identified as somatomedin-c. It belongs to the IGF family of peptides, which also includes IGF-II and insulin. The gene expression of IGF-I is mainly regulated by Growth Hormone, and IGF-I executes its functions via signaling through transmembrane tyrosine receptors(IGF Receptors). Most circulating IFG-I is associated with the IGF Binding Protein 3 (IGFBP-3), and the IGFBPs may inhibit the actions of IGFs by competing against the IGF Receptors. IGF-I is active in post-natal and adult animals, and is crucial for somatic growth, as IGF-I null mice show marked retardation in utero. IGF-I is involved in the carcinogenesis, and related to the prostate cancer as well.
Recombinant rat Insulin-like Growth Factor I (rrIGF-I) produced in E. coli is a single non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 71 amino acids. A fully biologically active molecule, rrIGF-I has a molecular mass of 7.8 kDa analyzed by reducing SDS-PAGE and is obtained by proprietary chromatographic techniques at GenScript.