IL-2 Recombinant Protein

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an interleukin, a type of cytokine immune system signaling molecule, which is a leukocytotrophic hormone that is instrumental in the body's natural response to microbial infection and in discriminating between foreign (non-self) and self. IL-2 mediates its effects by binding to IL-2 receptors, which are expressed by lymphocytes, the cells that are responsible for immunity. Mature human IL-2 shares 56% and 66% aa sequence identity with mouse and rat IL-2, respectively. Human and mouse IL-2 exhibit crossspecies activity. The receptor for IL-2 consists of three subunits that are present on the cell surface in varying preformed complexes. IL-2 is also necessary during T cell development in the thymus for the maturation of a unique subset of T cells that are termed regulatory T cells (T-regs) . After exiting from the thymus, T-Regs function to prevent other T cells from recognizing and reacting against "self antigens", which could result in "autoimmunity". T-Regs do so by preventing the responding cells from producing IL-2. Thus, IL-2 is required to discriminate between self and non-self, another one of the unique characteristics of the immune system.

Lyophilized Protein should be stored at -20˚ C or lower for long term storage. Upon reconstitution, working aliquots should be stored at -20˚ C or -70˚ C. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

This protein carries a polyhistidine tag at the C-terminus. The protein has a calculated MW of 17.3 kDa. The protein migrates as 18 kDa and 19 kDa under reducing (R) condition (SDS-PAGE) due to glycosylation.