IGF-1 LR3 – 1mg

IGF-1 LR3 (Long R3 IGF-1) is a recombinant analogue of insulin-like growth factor-1 with two modifications: an arginine substitution at position 3 and a 13-amino-acid N-terminal extension. These modifications dramatically reduce its binding to IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), extending its bioavailability and free-IGF-1 activity compared with native IGF-1. It is widely used as a research tool in cell biology, particularly in cell culture systems.

IGF-1 LR3 binds the IGF-1 receptor and, to a lesser extent, the insulin receptor, activating downstream PI3K/Akt and MAPK signalling pathways that govern cellular growth, proliferation, survival, and metabolism. The reduced IGFBP binding produces a more pronounced and sustained biological effect than native IGF-1 at equivalent concentrations, which is particularly valuable in cell culture research where IGFBP interference can confound results.

IGF-1 LR3 is well-established as a laboratory and cell-culture research tool. It is not a therapeutic product, and its use in living systems sits well outside the contexts in which its safety has been characterised.

Published research uses span both basic cell biology and applied physiology:

Cell culture: Extensively used as a growth supplement in mammalian cell culture systems, including bioprocessing and stem cell research.
Muscle biology: Studies on myoblast proliferation, differentiation, and hypertrophy in cellular models.
Cancer research: Investigation as a tool for studying IGF-1 receptor signalling in tumour biology.
Metabolic research: Studies on insulin-receptor crosstalk and glucose handling.