Glucagon, Recombinant, Human

A pancreatic hormone secreted by the alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans. It is a 29-amino acid straight chain polypeptide that plays an important role in regulation of blood glucose concentration, ketone metabolism, and several other biochemical and physiological processes Glucagon is beneficial for the culture of some cell types. It has been used in some biochemical regulation studies of glycogenolysis in hepatocytes. It has been also been found to induce DNA replication in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes when used in combinations with EGF and Insulin. Glucagon increases the blood glucose concentration by promoting rapid breakdown of liver glycogen, and also acts to relax smooth muscle such as the gastrointestinal tract.||Recombinant Human Glucagon is a single, non-glycosylated, polypeptide chain containing 29 amino acids and having a molecular mass of 3483D.||Sequence:|The sequence of the first five N-terminal amino acids was determined and was found to be His-Ser-Gln-Gly-Thr.||Biological Activity:|The activity is determind by comparing, under certain conditions, the hyperglycemic effect it produces with that produced by the international standard or by reference preparation calibrated in IU and is found to be 1IU/mg.||Storage and Stability:|Store powder dessicated at -20ºC. Liquid can be stored at 4ºC for 2-7 days, long term at -20ºC. For long term it is recommended to add a carrier protein (0.1% HSA or BSA). Aliquot to prevent repeated freeze-thaw cycles.