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GH Axis · Reference monograph

PEGylated form of mechano growth factor (IGF-1 splice variant)

Reference compound — not available from Purity Peptides. Shown for research context.

Overview

Mechano growth factor (MGF) is the name given to an IGF-1 splice variant — IGF-1Ec in humans — first described by Geoffrey Goldspink's group in the 1990s. Its expression rises in skeletal muscle after mechanical loading or damage, and its distinctive C-terminal E-domain peptide became a focus of research into how muscle senses and responds to stress.

Synthetic versions of the E-domain peptide are rapidly degraded, so polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains have been attached to create PEG-MGF, a form intended to persist longer in experimental systems. Studies in cultured myoblasts and rodent muscle have reported effects on satellite-cell activation and proliferation, though results have been mixed and some laboratories question whether the E-peptide acts independently of mature IGF-1. There are no clinical trials, and PEG-MGF is prohibited in sport. It is supplied here for in-vitro and animal research on muscle biology.

Mechanism studied

  1. PEG-MGF
  2. Satellite cells
  3. Proliferation signalling
  4. Muscle repair models

The MGF E-domain peptide is proposed to stimulate proliferation of muscle precursor (satellite) cells while delaying their differentiation, expanding the pool available for repair. Some studies suggest this activity occurs through a receptor distinct from the IGF-1 receptor, whereas others attribute effects to modulation of IGF-1 receptor signalling. PEGylation increases molecular size and shields the peptide from proteases and renal clearance, extending its persistence. The underlying receptor biology remains unresolved and is an active question in the literature.

Research highlights

  • 01Derived from the IGF-1Ec splice variant expressed after muscle loading
  • 02PEGylation was introduced to overcome rapid degradation of the native E-peptide
  • 03Satellite-cell activation reported in myoblast and rodent studies
  • 04Independent receptor activity of the E-peptide remains debated
  • 05No clinical trials; prohibited in sport under WADA class S2

Latest published research

194 papers on PubMed →

  1. The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis: bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration

    Dominikowski A et al. · Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026 · PMID 42395176

  2. Mechanical growth factor inhibited syndesmophyte formation and the progression of osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis-like symptoms in HLA-B27/Hu-β2m transgenic rats

    Moro A et al. · Arthritis research & therapy · 2025 Nov 21 · PMID 41272763

  3. Corrigendum to "Surface modification of electrospun fibers with mechano-growth factor for mitigating the foreign-body reaction" [Bioact. Mater. 6 (9) (2021) 2983-2998]

    Song Y et al. · Bioactive materials · 2025 Sep · PMID 40475086

  4. Mechano-growth factor regulates periodontal ligament stem cell proliferation and differentiation through Fyn-RhoA-YAP signaling

    Feng F et al. · Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 2024 Nov 12 · PMID 39067248

  5. Retraction: Mechano growth factor attenuates mechanical overload-induced nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis through inhibiting the p38 MAPK pathway

    Bioscience reports · 2024 Aug 28 · PMID 39171815

  6. The Effects of IGF1 and MGF on Neural Stem Cells in Hypoxic Conditions

    Aydıntuğ-Gürbüz T et al. · Basic and clinical neuroscience · 2024 May-Jun · PMID 39403354

  7. Mechanochemical coupling of MGF mediates periodontal regeneration

    Zhao Y et al. · Bioengineering & translational medicine · 2024 Jan · PMID 38193124

  8. The role of mechano growth factor in chondrocytes and cartilage defects: a concise review

    Liu Y et al. · Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica · 2023 May 12 · PMID 37171185

Live feed from PubMed (NCBI) for “PEG-MGF”, updated 2026-10-30. Listing a paper is not an endorsement of its findings.

Registered studies

1 on ClinicalTrials.gov →

From the public ClinicalTrials.gov registry for “PEG-MGF”, updated 2026-10-30. Shown for research context only; Purity Peptides products are not for human use.

Key references

  1. [1]PubMed — reviews on mechano growth factor
  2. [2]WADA — Prohibited List of Substances and Methods

FAQ

  • The native MGF E-domain peptide is broken down within minutes in biological fluids. Attaching polyethylene glycol increases its size and protects it from proteases, extending its persistence in culture and animal models. Researchers should account for the PEG moiety when interpreting molecular weight on analytical data.

  • Lyophilized PEG-MGF is normally kept sealed at −20 °C, protected from light and moisture. Once reconstituted for laboratory work, aliquots are held at 2–8 °C for short-term use or frozen, avoiding repeated freeze–thaw. Follow the lot-specific guidance on the certificate of analysis.

  • Every lot of PEG-MGF ships with a certificate of analysis reporting HPLC purity, mass-spectrometry identity against the expected molecular weight, appearance and lot number. Match the COA lot to the vial label and keep it with your experimental records.

FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY.Not for human or veterinary use. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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