| Field | Specification |
|---|---|
| Mfr No | |
| Alternative Names | IL-6; Interleukin-6; B-cell stimulatory factor 2 (BSF-2); IFN-β2; Hepatocyte-stimulating factor (HSF) |
| Biological Activity | |
| Endotoxin Level | |
| Expression System | |
| Form | Lyophilized powder |
| Formulation | |
| Gene ID | |
| Molecular Weight | |
| Post-Translational Modifications | |
| Product Type | |
| Purity | |
| Reconstitution | |
| Shipping | |
| Species | |
| Storage | |
| Target |
IL-6 (Interleukin-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine central to immune regulation, inflammation, hematopoiesis, and acute-phase responses. It signals through the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) complex: IL-6 binding recruits and homodimerizes the signal transducer gp130 (CD130), initiating JAK/STAT3, MAPK/ERK, and PI3K/Akt cascades. IL-6 is a secreted N-glycosylated monomer; proper folding of receptor-binding residues, disulfide bridges, and glycosylation sites are essential for potent IL-6R/gp130 complex stimulation.
Expressed in Pichia pastoris (K. phaffii)
MycoFold™ IL-6 is produced in a proprietary engineered yeast platform that ensures chaperone-guided protein folding, lysis-free secretion, and elimination of animal-origin inputs and bacterial endotoxin. The result is a highly pure, bioactive protein that reconstitutes in deionized water — no special buffers required.
Product Specifications
| Cat. No. | GR1005-10, GR1005-50, GR1005-100, GR1005-250, GR1005-500, GR1005-1000 |
|---|---|
| Source | Pichia pastoris (K. phaffii) |
| Structure / Form | Carrier protein-free; no affinity tags; N-glycosylated secreted monomer |
| Molecular Weight | ~26 kDa (N-glycosylated monomer) |
| UniProt / Gene | P05231 / IL6 (NCBI Gene ID: 3569) |
| Purity | >95% by SDS-PAGE and HP-SEC |
| Endotoxin | Negative (endotoxin-free; tested per lot) |
| Storage | Lyophilized: ≤−20°C until expiry. Reconstituted: 2–8°C up to 20 days (103% activity confirmed at 20 days 4°C). Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. |
| Shipping | Ambient temperature; lyophilized formulation requires no cold chain |
QC & Validation
✓ Lot-specific CoA ✓ SDS-PAGE Purity ✓ LAL Endotoxin Tested ✓ Mycoplasma Tested (qPCR) ✓ BSE/TSE Statement AvailableSafety & Regulatory
| Cat. No. | GR1005-10, GR1005-50, GR1005-100, GR1005-250, GR1005-500, GR1005-1000 |
| Expression System | Pichia pastoris (K. phaffii), eukaryotic yeast |
| Protein Structure | N-glycosylated secreted monomer; lyophilized powder |
| Molecular Weight | ~26 kDa (N-glycosylated monomer) |
| UniProt / Gene | P05231 / IL6 (NCBI Gene ID: 3569) |
| Species Reactivity | Human |
| EC50 (Activity) | <0.04 ng/mL (HEK Blue IL-6 cell line, Invivogen hkb-hil6v2; 24-hr OD635) |
| Specific Activity | ≥3.45×10⁷ IU/mg (3.0× HEK-293 competitor; 1.4× E. coli competitor) |
| Bioactivity Value | 14,343 IU/mg/$ (3.2× HEK-293; 2.0× E. coli) |
| Purity | >95% by SDS-PAGE and HP-SEC |
| Endotoxin | Negative (endotoxin-free; LAL tested per lot) |
| Thermal Stability (Tm) | 58.5°C (Biotium GloMelt™ Thermal Shift assay, triplicate) |
| Post-Translational Modifications | N-linked glycosylation; disulfide bridges (Cys45–Cys51, Cys73–Cys83) |
| Formulation | Carrier protein-free; no affinity tags; no excipients added |
| Reconstitution | Deionized water, 0.1–0.5 mg/mL; no buffers required |
| Storage (Lyophilized) | ≤−20°C until expiry |
| Storage (Reconstituted) | 2–8°C up to 20 days (103% activity confirmed); −20°C extended storage; avoid repeated freeze-thaw |
| Shipping | Ambient temperature; no cold chain required |
Bioactivity Assay: 24-hr dose-dependent stimulation of HEK Blue IL-6 reporter cells (Invivogen Cat. No. hkb-hil6v2), quantified by SEAP reporter absorbance at 635 nm (OD635). MycoFold rHu IL-6 achieves EC50 <0.04 ng/mL — the most potent performance in head-to-head testing versus Competitor 1 (E. coli, EC50 higher) and Competitor 2 (HEK-293, EC50 higher). Specific activity ≥3.45×10⁷ IU/mg, 3.0× higher than HEK-293 competitor (2.51×10⁷ IU/mg) and 1.4× higher than E. coli competitor (1.14×10⁷ IU/mg).
Thermal Stability: Tm = 58.5°C (Biotium GloMelt™ Kit; triplicate; 40–100°C scan). Disulfide bridges and N-glycosylation stabilize the IL-6 four-helix bundle structure. MycoFold IL-6 Goat IgG positive control Tm = 72.6°C.
Stability Data: Specific activity measured freshly reconstituted (100%), after 1× freeze-thaw (112% — activity preserved or enhanced), and at 20 days at 4°C (103%). This confirmed stability profile supports multi-day experimental workflows without protein degradation concerns.
MycoFold™ rHu IL-6 supports research across inflammation, oncology, neuroinflammation, and hematopoiesis:
- Inflammatory Disease Models: Acute-phase response induction; rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), psoriasis, and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) models
- Cancer Research: Multiple myeloma (STAT3 signaling), hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer cell signaling; STAT3-driven cancer cell survival and proliferation assays
- Neuroinflammation: Alzheimer's disease neuroinflammation models; multiple sclerosis (MS) glial activation; blood-brain barrier integrity studies; depression-related neuroinflammation
- B-Cell & Adaptive Immunity: B-cell-to-plasma-cell differentiation; T follicular helper (Tfh) cell studies; Th17 polarization and Treg suppression assays
- Hematopoiesis: Hematopoietic stem cell stimulation; hepatocyte acute-phase protein induction; senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) research
- IL-6 Signaling Studies: JAK/STAT3, MAPK/ERK, and PI3K/Akt pathway activation via IL-6R / gp130 receptor complex
MycoFold's Pichia pastoris expression system is genetically engineered for precise 3D protein folding, with ER-resident chaperones performing quality control and eliminating misfolded proteins before secretion. This ensures that receptor-binding residues (critical for IL-6R / gp130 engagement), disulfide bridges, and N-glycosylation sites are all in the correct orientation. The lysis-free secretion process also avoids the intracellular protein contaminants that reduce effective bioactivity in mammalian cell expression. The net result is a protein with both higher intrinsic specific activity and better lot-to-lot consistency than HEK-293 or CHO-expressed versions.
Bioactivity testing uses the HEK Blue IL-6 reporter cell line (Invivogen Cat. No. hkb-hil6v2). These HEK293 cells stably express the human IL-6 receptor complex (IL-6R and gp130) and a SEAP reporter gene under STAT3 transcriptional control. IL-6-stimulated JAK/STAT3 signaling drives SEAP secretion, quantified by absorbance at OD635. 24-hr dose-response experiments establish the EC50 with this orthogonal reporter system.
Yes. IL-6 is a key co-cytokine in Th17 polarization protocols, typically used in combination with TGF-β. MycoFold rHu IL-6 is endotoxin-negative (critical for polarization assays where LPS contamination would confound Th1/Th17 balance) and carrier protein-free. Its exceptional specific activity (<0.04 ng/mL EC50) means you can achieve robust Th17 polarization at significantly lower concentrations than with competitor products.
Reconstituted MycoFold rHu IL-6 retains 103% specific activity at 20 days at 2–8°C. For storage beyond 20 days, aliquot and freeze at −20°C. After a single freeze-thaw cycle, 112% activity was measured relative to freshly reconstituted protein (indicating freeze-thaw does not degrade activity). Avoid multiple freeze-thaw cycles. Initial reconstitution in deionized water to 0.1–0.5 mg/mL requires no buffer supplements.
Yes. MycoFold rHu IL-6 tests endotoxin-negative on every lot by LAL assay. This is particularly important for IL-6 research, since LPS contamination in recombinant protein preparations is a well-known confounding variable — LPS itself induces IL-6 production from macrophages and monocytes, making endotoxin-contaminated preparations unreliable for accurate cytokine dose-response studies.
The following customization options may be available for qualified research programs:
- Custom Lot Sizes: Quantities >1 mg available for high-throughput screening or bioassay development programs
- Institutional Volume Pricing: Core lab and procurement programs available — contact us for discount schedules
- GMP-Grade Supply: Scalable to GMP manufacturing for cell therapy and bioproduction applications
- Early Evaluation Sample: Qualified researchers may request a complimentary 10 µg sample to benchmark against your current IL-6 supplier
Contact our scientific team to discuss your specific requirements.
