Human Fibronectin

Fibronectin (FN) is a glycoprotein with 5-9% carbohydrates present as N- and O-linked oligosaccharides.[1] It belongs to the ligand glycoprotein family. The FN gene is localized to human chromosome 2q35.[2] FN exists as two major isoforms, plasma-based soluble and extracellular matrix (ECM)-based insoluble form.[1] Fibronectin structure comprises repeats of FNI, FNII and FNIII repeats.[3] It also has fibrin-binding sites and exists as a dimer.[4] Alternative splicing of the FN1 gene leads to the generation of many isoforms.[1] This fibronectin protein is manufactured in human cells using an all-human production system with no serum. The human cells expression system allows human-like glycosylation and folding, and often supports better stability of the protein in culture.

Epithelial cells, mesenchymal cells, neuronal cells, fibroblasts, neural crest cells, endothelial cells.
Recommended for use as a cell culture substratum at 1-5 μg/cm² or 0.5-50 μg/ml. Optimal concentration depends on cell type as well as the application or research objectives.

Fibronectin human has been used for coating cell culture plates for culturing endothelial progenitor cells.[5] It has also been used as a component of Dulbecco′s modified Eagle′s medium (DMEM) in the in vitro matrigel invasion assay of glioblastoma cells.[6]

Fibronectin (FN) is essential for embryonic development and mediates cell adhesion and migration functions.[2] It mediates apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The plasma FN regulates thrombosis.[1] Fibronectin functions as a ligand for the integrin receptor family[4] and contains collagen, glycoprotein and glycosaminoglycan binding sites.[7] Mutation in the FNI gene leads to an imbalance in the soluble and insoluble forms of fibronectin leading to glomerular deposits in hereditary kidney disease, glomerulopathy.[8] Missense mutations in the FN1 gene are implicated in the skeletal dysplasias disorder, Spondylometaphyseal dysplasias.[7]

Supplied as a powder, lyophilized from CAPS buffered saline.

The biological activity of recombinant human fibronectin was tested in culture by measuring the ability of immobilized fibronectin to support adhesion of CHO cells.