1. Why use MycoFold’s rHu IL-6?
Our Recombinant Human Interleukin 6 (rHu IL-6) has been engineered for maximum bioactivity, thermal stability, and ease of use, providing researchers with the best-in-class return on investment for their growth factor or cytokine needs. Our innovation plan starts with sequence optimization using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools combined with high-throughput screening methods to identify an optimized protein target with properly positioned binding residues for maximum receptor binding affinity (the engine). Utilizing an engineered P. Pastoris (yeast) expression model (the chassis), which provides mammalian PTMs and chaperoned folding to enable complete 3D protein structures, we can translateoptimized protein sequences into functional proteins that overcome current technical challenges such as poor bioactivity, misfolding, lot-to-lot inconsistency, and thermal instability. Our rigorous release testing requirements and documentation ensure that performance and value expectations are met (see Product Data Sheet and Certificate of Analysis).
2. What are the recommended storage conditions for MycoFold’s rHu IL-6?
We recommend storing this product at 2-8 °C.
3. What are the shipping conditions for MycoFold’s rHu IL-6?
This product ships at ambient temperature.
4. What is the shelf-life for MycoFold’s rHu IL-6?
This product has a shelf life of 24 months after the date of manufacture under recommended controlled storage conditions. See Certificate of Analysis or Product Data Sheet for more information.
5. How do you reconstitute MycoFold’s rHu IL-6?
Initially reconstitute in deionized water (DI) or water for injection (WFI) to a concentration of 0.1 - 0.5 mg/mL. See Certificate of Analysis for more information.
6. What organism is used to express MycoFold’s rHu IL-6?
This product is secreted from engineered K. phaffii (fka P. pastoris) yeast.
7. How is MycoFold’s rHu IL-6 different than native IL-6?
MycoFold’s rHu IL-6 peptide sequence matches the wild-type sequence of native IL-6, verified by LC-MS.
8. What is the molecular weight of MycoFold’s rHu IL-6?
MycoFold’s rHu IL-6 was characterized using a high-resolution LC-MS using a Waters™ ACQUITY M-Class NanoLC liquid chromatography platform and a Thermo Scientific™ Orbitrap™ Eclipse Tribrid HRMS mass spectrometry platform and was found to have an observed molecular mass of ~20.9 kDa. Every batch of product is also released using a reducing SDS-PAGE molecular weight assay to directly compare against a reference standard.
9. Does this product have a TSE/BSE statement?
Yes, a TSE/BSE statement is available on the rHu IL-6 product website.
10. Are animal-derived materials used in the manufacture of this product?
No animal-derived materials are used in our manufacturing process. Additionally, this product was manufactured in a fully dedicated animal-free facility. Please see our BSE-TSE Statement for additional information.
11. Is virus and pathogen inactivation included in the manufacturing process?
No, our expression system, Pichia Pastoris (yeast), is not a natural host for bacteriophages that infect E. coli-based expression systems or human or animal viruses that infect mammalian-based expression systems.
12. What safety testing is done on this product?
Every lot of final product is tested and released, with specifications and methods per USP/EP, for both Endotoxin (USP <85> / EP 2.6.14) and Sterility (USP <71> / EP 2.6.1).
13. Which cell types are suitable?
MycoFold’s rHu IL-6 has an unusually broad target cell range. Depending on the application, IL-6 can promote signaling in B cells, T cells, macrophages, monocytes, hepatocytes, megakaryocytes, hematopoietic stem cells, dendritic cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, osteoclasts, dendritic cells, astrocytes, and microglia cells.
14. Do you have an SDS for this product?
Yes, an MSDS is available on the product page website.
15. How does MycoFold measure activity for rHu IL-6?
MycoFold observed signaling of HEK-Blue™ IL-6 Reporter Cells (InvivoGen Cat. hkb-hil6), quantitatively assessed by QUANTI-Blue™ Solution at an absorbance measurement at OD635nm based on a 24-hour dose-dependent exposure to MycoFold™ rHu IL-6 protein, quantitatively assessed by luminescence of PrestoBlue™ Cell Viability reagent. The specific activity of MycoFold™ rHu IL-6 is greater than 3.40 x 10e7 IU/mg, which is calculated against and the leading E. coli-based and HEK-293-based competitor versions. See Product Data Sheet for more information.
16. Is the activity performance comparable to competitor rHu IL-6 products?
The specific activity (IU/mg) of MycoFold’s rHu IL-6 batches has outperformed the leading E. coli-expressed competitor’s versions of IL-6. We attribute this outperformance to the confirmation of the wild-type peptide sequence of our IL-6, the consistent lot-to-lot nature of yeast (eukaryotic) expression, and the high purity of our proteins. In our head-to-head test, the specific activity of MycoFold’s rHu IL-6 was 3.45 x 10e7 IU/mg, compared to 2.51 x 10e7 IU/mg and 1.14 x 10e7 from the leading E. coli-expressed and HEK-293-expressed competitor versions, respectively.
17. How does MycoFold measure thermal stability for rHu IL-6?
MycoFold tests the thermal stability of rHu IL-6 using a Real Time-PCR thermal shift protein assay manufactured by Biotium (Cat. No. 33022-T) to generate a Tm value, which is a measure of temperature-induced unfolding, indicating the temperature at which 50% of a protein population is unfolded. The Tm value for MycoFold’s rHu M-CST is approximately 58.5°C.
18. What is the intended use for the product?
Unless otherwise stated in our catalog or other company documentation accompanying this product, this product is intended to be used as an ancillary material for research purposes and not for unauthorized commercial or therapeutic uses, including resale.
19. What packaging options are available?
MycoFold’s lyophilized rHu IL-6 is available in 4 different aliquot sizes: 500 µg, 100 µg, 50 µg, and 10 µg. All aliquot sizes are packaged in generic colorless polypropylene (PP) screw cap vials that are sterilized before filling. These vials have a nominal fill volume of 2 mL with a minimum overflow volume of 2.4 mL.
20. Do I need to use a sterile needle and syringe to remove the product from the vial?
No, our vial packaging was chosen for easy access with a laboratory pipette.
