Fully-Chemically Synthesized Peptide with Activity
Equivalent to HGF

PeptiGrowth succeeded in developing a peptide that has the same receptor activation ability and cell proliferation promotion ability as HGF. PG-001, an alternative peptide to HGF, induces dimerization of c-Met receptors and exerts biological activity, similar to activities of HGF.

Induces Dimerization of c-Met and Exerts Biological Activity similar to HGF

*This is for illustrative purpose.

We performed a functional comparison test between our HGF Alternative Peptide (PG-001) and commercially available recombinant HGF.
From the results, PG-001 showed the property which promotes the phosphorylation of c-Met receptor and the proliferation of HUVEC at the same level per molecule compared with recombinant HGF.
The molecular weight of HGF Alternative peptide is approximately 4.7kDa, which is approximately 16 times smaller than that of recombinant HGF.

Applications Data

Professor Hideki Taniguchi at the Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo conducted proliferation and cloning tests of liver cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) using recombinant HGF or PG-001. As a result, it was confirmed that PG-001 has activity equivalent to HGF at the same level.

PG-001 Product Overview

Small molecule inhibitors “kinase inhibitors” have problems on its specificity and its necessity to act in cells, and in addition, neutralizing antibodies are costly and also difficult to prove animal-free.
Our PG-002 is a special peptide that binds TGFβ1 ligand outside the cell and exerts inhibitory activity.
Since it is produced by complete chemical synthesis, we are able to provide animal-free certification.

Method for Inhibiting TGFβ1 Signal

*This is for illustrative purpose.

Equivalent Inhibitory Activity to TGFβ-Neutralizing Antibody

PG-002 Product Overview

Fully-Chemically Synthesized Peptide with Activity Equivalent to BDNF

Like growth factor BDNF, PG-003 is a growth factor alternative peptide with agonistic activity against the TrkB receptor. In the field of regenerative medicine and cell therapy for the nervous system, which has been extensively researched and developed in recent years, BDNF Alternative Peptide can be used in maintaining the survival and inducing differentiation of nervous system cells.

Induces Dimerization of TrkB and Exerts Biological Activity similar to BDNF

*This is for illustrative purpose.

We performed a functional comparison test between our BDNF Alternative Peptide (PG-003) and commercially available recombinant BDNF.
From the results, PG-003 showed the property which promotes the phosphorylation of TrkB receptor and the expression of NFAT-responsive reporter gene at the same level per molecule compared with recombinant BDNF.
The molecular weight of TrkB agonist peptide is approximately 5.1 kDa, which is approximately 2.5 times smaller than that of recombinant BDNF.

Applications Data

We asked Jiksak Bioengineering Inc. to evaluate the behavior of neurite bundle elongation using their proprietary technology, Nerve OrganoidTM, with BDNF or PG-003. As a result, when PG-003 was used, thicker and longer neurite bundles were formed.

PG-003 Product Overview

Fully-Chemically Synthesized Peptide with Antagonistic Activity in Several BMP Families Similar to Noggin

Like growth factor Noggin, Our Noggin-like peptide is a growth factor alternative peptide with antagonistic activity against several BMP families. Our Noggin-like Peptide is expected to be used to maintain undifferentiation and induce differentiation in the development and manufacture of regenerative medicine and cell therapy for pancreas, lung, intestine, etc., which have been actively researched and developed in recent years, and in the preparation of organoids.

NLike Noggin, PG-004 binds to secvetal BMP families and inhibits signals

We conducted a functional comparison test between our Noggin-like Peptide (PG-004) and commercially available recombinant Noggin by measuring smad1 phosphorylation. The results revealed that PG-004 exhibited inhibitory activity against BMP4 and BMP7 at the same level per molecule as recombinant Noggin. Furthermore, we confirmed that PG-004 also demonstrates inhibitory activity against BMP family proteins with high sequence homology to BMP4 and BMP7. The molecular weight of our Noggin-like Peptide is approximately 2.9 kDa, which is roughly 8 times smaller than the molecular weight of recombinant Noggin. PG-004 exhibits the same level of inhibitory activity at 1/8th of the concentration (ng/mL) of recombinant Noggin.

Application Note

Thanks to the collaboration with HiLung Corporation, we have successfully induced effective differentiation from iPSCs to lung progenitor cells using Noggin-like Peptide (PG-004). Furthermore, we have achieved the successful construction of lung alveolar organoids.

PG-004

Noggin

Lung alveolar organoids formed using lung progenitor cells differentiated from iPSCs using either PG-004 or Noggin (Day 14).

PG-004 Product Overview

Novel functional peptides capable of separately inhibiting the BMP4 family and BMP7 family.

PG-005 and PG-006 are special peptides that are fully chemically synthesized and possess selective inhibitory activity against the BMP7 family and BMP4 family, respectively. They make it possible to separately inhibit the BMP4/7 families, which was impossible with existing small kinase inhibitors or Noggin, and can be utilized for detailed analysis and control of BMP signaling, as well as for constructing new cellular differentiation pathways.

Binding to the BMP4 family or BMP7 family and inhibiting their signals separately.

*This is for illustrative purpose.

PG-005 exhibits selective inhibitory activity against the BMP7 family, while PG-006 shows selective inhibitory activity against the BMP4 family. Each inhibitory activity is equivalent to Noggin at a molar concentration.

PG-005

PG-006

PG-005 Product Overview

PG-006 Product Overview

Fully-Chemically Synthesized Peptide with
Similar Functionality to VEGF

PG-007 has a similar function to VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor) and can be used to promote the proliferation of endothelial cells and induce the differentiation of iPS cells into vascular endothelial cells.

PG-007 exhibits selective binding affinity to VEGFR2 and agonist activity.

*This is for illustrative purpose.

PG-007 has been confirmed to possess phosphorylation capability on VEGFR2 similar to VEGF, as well as the ability to promote proliferation of iPSC-derived endothelial cells.

PG-007 Product Overview

Fully-Chemically Synthesized Peptide with Activity
Equivalent to Wnt3a

PG-008 is composed of a heterodimer of two cyclic peptides with selective binding affinity for Frizzled and LRP5/6. Similar to Wnt3a, it exhibits agonist activity for the β-catenin pathway of the Wnt signaling.

*This is for illustrative purpose.

Superior agonist activity compared to recombinant Wnt3a

Using the TCF-LEF reporter assay (luciferase) in HEK293 cells, the comparison of activity between recombinant Wnt3a and PG-008 revealed that PG-008 activates reporter genes more strongly at lower concentrations, demonstrating superior agonist activity compared to Wnt3a.

Exhibiting cell differentiation induction activity at an exceptionally low concentration compared to CHIR99021

In the process of differentiating iPSCs into definitive endoderm, we conducted a comparison of differentiation induction efficiency using CHIR99021, recombinant Wnt3a, and PG-008. The results revealed that when recombinant Wnt3a(50 ng/mL: approx. 1.3 nM) was used, the efficiency was around 60%. However, when PG-008 and CHIR99021 were employed, we achieved an efficiency of over 98%. Remarkably, 1 nM of PG-008 exhibited a differentiation induction efficiency equivalent to that achieved with CHIR99021 at 3 µM.

PG-008 Product Overview

Fully Chemically Synthesized
Full-Length EGF

PG-009 is a full-length Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) (human) synthesized through complete chemical synthesis. In comparison to recombinant EGF produced using microorganisms or cells, it shows no quality variations between batches, is devoid of animal-derived raw materials, and is compatible with GMP production.

PDB ID: 1JL9
Lu, H.S., Chai, J.J., Li, M., Huang, B.R., He, C.H., Bi, R.C. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276: 34913-34917
https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M102874200

PG-009 Product Overview

Fully-Chemically Synthesized Peptide with Activity
Equivalent to TPO

PG-010 is composed of a cyclic peptide that binds to the thrombopoietin receptor (TPOR) and functions as a growth factor substitute peptide, demonstrating agonistic activity towards TPOR.

Induces Dimerization of TPOR and Exerts Biological Activity similar to TPO

*This is for illustrative purpose.

Recombinant TPO and PG-010 activities were compared using ERK phosphorylation and reporter gene activation under JAK2-STAT5 signaling pathway. The results indicated that PG-010 demonstrated activity nearly equivalent to TPO on a molar basis, showing similar activity at 2.6 times less concentrations than recombinant TPO based on mass concentration (ng/mL).

PG-010 Product Overview

Fully-Chemically Synthesized Peptide with Activity
Equivalent to FGF2

PG-011 is composed of a cyclic peptide that has binding affinity for FGFR1c and exhibits agonist activity toward FGFR1c.

PG-011 exhibits binding affinity for FGFR1c and agonist activity.

*This is for illustrative purpose.

We conducted a comparison of the cell proliferation activity of PG-011 and FGF2 using bone marrow-derived human MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells). The results showed that PG-011 exhibited comparable cell proliferation activity to FGF2. When compared on a mass concentration basis (ng/mL), PG-011 demonstrated equivalent activity to FGF2 at approximately one-third the concentration.

iPSCs Pluripotency Maintenance Ability

We evaluated the proliferation and pluripotency maintenance abilities of iPSCs using PG-011. The culture media were supplemented with either FGF2 (100 ng/mL, approx. 5.9 nM) or an equivalent molar concentration of PG-011 (approx. 30 ng/mL). After 7 days of culture, subculturing was performed. Following three rounds of subculturing, the morphology of the iPSCs was observed under a microscope. The results confirmed that iPSCs cultured with PG-011 exhibited a morphology similar to that of cells cultured with FGF2.

After the third round of subculturing, iPSCs were collected on day 7 of culture, and the percentage of positive cells for pluripotency markers (SSEA4, TRA-1-60) was measured using flow cytometry to assess the pluripotent state of the iPSCs. The results confirmed that, for all three cell lines evaluated, PG-011 and FGF2 showed similar rates of positive pluripotency markers. This confirms that PG-011 has equivalent iPSC pluripotency maintenance capability to FGF2.

Proliferation Activity on Bovine-Derived Muscle Satellite Cells

Results from the proliferation assay using PG-011 on bovine-derived muscle satellite cells demonstrated that PG-011 exhibited proliferation activity even at a concentration of 0.2 ng/mL. This suggests that PG-011 has potential applications not only in regenerative medicine and cell therapy but also in the production of cultured meat.

Superior Stability

We compared the stability of PG-011 and FGF2. Each sample was incubated at 37°C in serum-free medium for 1 day and 4 days. After incubation, the samples were evaluated for their proliferation activity on MSCs (concentration condition: 0.06 nM). The results showed that while FGF2 exhibited a decrease in activity over the incubation time, PG-011 maintained its activity even after 4 days of incubation. This indicates that PG-011 possesses superior stability compared to FGF2.

PG-011 Product Overview