Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF)
Basic fibroblast growth factor, also known as bFGF or FGF2 (Figure 5), is a member of the fibroblast growth factor family. Human bFGF (hbFGF) is a 16.2 kDa polypeptide containing 146 amino acids present in the subendothelial extracellular matrix and basement membranes of blood vessels.
One of the functions of bFGF is the promotion of endothelial cell proliferation. It mediates the process of angiogenesis, the growth of blood vessels from the pre-existing vasculature. It occurs in the healthy body for healing wounds and restoring blood flow to tissues after injury.
Besides, bFGF is involved in tissue repairing. It stimulates the proliferation of fibroblasts that give rise to granulation tissue which fills up a wound space in the wound healing process. It not only shortens the time of recovery, but also improves the quality of wound healing.
At GVN, we have expressed recombinant hbFGF using different bacterial host systems. Works are undertaken to produce hbFGF at a cost-effective price on a large scale.
Figure 1. Depiction of a 3-D structure of hbFGF
Publications:
1. Wang H, Hu XH, Sivakumar T, Lai CYN, Ng KL, Lam CC, Wong WKR (2018).A practical approach to unveiling auto-catalytic cleavages mediated by Mxe GyrA intein and improving the production of authentic bFGF. Journal of Advanced Research in Biotechnology 3(3), 1-10
2. Hu XH, Lai CYN, Sivakumar T, Wang H, Ng KL, Lam CC, Wong WKR (2018). Novel strategy for expression of authentic and bioactive human basic fibroblast growth factor in Bacillus subtilis. Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 102(16), 7061-7069.
3. Sivakumar T, Lai CYN, Lam CC, Hu XH, Wang H, Ng KL, Wong WKR (2018). Purification of authentic human basic fibroblast growth factor expressed in both the cytoplasm and culture medium of Escherichia coli. Int J Chromatogr Sep Tech: IJCST-115. DOI, 10.
4. Kwong KWY, Sivakumar T, Wong WKR (2016) Intein mediated hyper-production of authentic human basic fibroblast growth factor in Escherichia coli. Scientific reports, 6, 33948.
5. Kwong KWY, Wong WKR (2013) A revolutionary approach facilitating co-expression of authentic human epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in both cytoplasm and culture medium of Escherichia coli. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 97: 9071-9080.
6. Kwong KWY, Ng KL, Lam CC, Wang YY, Wong WKR (2013) Authentic human basic fibroblast growth factor produced by secretion in Bacillus subtilis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 97:6803-6811.
Patents for our hbFGF works are under preparation.