Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a growth factor that plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation by binding to its receptor EGFR. Human EGF is a 6045-Da protein with 53 amino acid residues and three intramolecular disulfide bonds.EGF acts by binding with high affinity to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the cell surface and stimulating the intrinsic protein-tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor. EGF results in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival. It also has a profound effect on the differentiation of specific cells in vivo and is a potent mitogenic factor for a variety of cultured cells of both ectodermal and mesodermal origin. EGF has strong expression in kidney, salivary gland, cerebrum, and prostate; moderate expression in trachea and thyroid; and low expression in bone marrow, heart, spleen, thymus, uterus, and colon. No expression was detected in adrenal gland, liver, lung, cerebellum, placenta, and small intestine.

ScienCell's human EGF ELISA Kit is based on standard sandwich enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay technology. Human EGF specific-monoclonal antibodies are precoated onto 8 x 12 divisible strips. The human specific detection polyclonal antibodies are biotinylated. The test samples and biotinylated detection antibodies are subsequently added to the wells and then washed with PBS or TBS buffer. Avidin-Biotin-Peroxidase Complex is added, and unbound conjugates are washed away with PBS or TBS buffer. HRP substrate TMB is used to visualize HRP enzymatic reaction. TMB is catalyzed by HRP to produce a blue color product that changes into yellow after adding acidic stop solution. The intensity of yellow is proportional to the amount of human EGF that is captured in the strips.