MEK 162 is a small-molecule inhibitor that targets MEK1 and MEK2, the key kinases within the RAS–RAF–MEK–ERK signalling pathway. In cell biology and molecular pharmacology laboratories, this compound is used as a research tool to selectively block that pathway, allowing researchers to observe the biological consequences that follow when proliferative signal transmission is interrupted at a defined point. The MAPK pathway is among the most extensively studied signalling cascades because of its role in regulating cell growth, differentiation, and survival, which makes a reliable pathway inhibitor a frequently requested reagent in signalling work.
The characteristics that make this compound a widely chosen option are its selectivity toward MEK1/2 together with its ability to act at low concentrations in cell culture, so that the observed effects can be attributed to inhibition of the intended pathway with greater confidence. Inhibition of MEK suppresses downstream ERK phosphorylation, and this readout is straightforward to monitor using standard immunoblot techniques with phospho-ERK antibodies. The compound is also soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide, so it is easily prepared as a concentrated stock solution and diluted into culture medium across whatever concentration range an experiment requires.
In Indonesia, this compound is typically used in university and institutional research laboratories working on cell biology, molecular pharmacology, and cell signalling. It generally appears in experiments where a defined pathway inhibitor is needed to establish whether an observed cellular response depends on MAPK signalling. Because the material is supplied by TCI and handled as a research-grade reagent, it is ordered in the small quantities appropriate to cell culture work, prepared as DMSO stocks, and applied across the dilution series a given study calls for.
- Selective inhibition of MAPK signalling in cultured cells, where its selectivity toward MEK1/2 lets researchers interrupt the RAS–RAF–MEK–ERK cascade at one defined node rather than broadly suppressing kinase activity.
- Phospho-ERK immunoblot studies, because MEK inhibition suppresses downstream ERK phosphorylation and that change is readily detected with standard phospho-ERK antibodies in routine Western blot workflows.
- Cell proliferation and growth studies, since the MAPK pathway governs proliferative signalling and blocking it reveals how strongly a given cell population depends on that cascade for growth.
- Cell differentiation and survival research, where the compound allows investigators to test whether differentiation or survival phenotypes observed in culture require active signalling through MEK1 and MEK2.
- Molecular pharmacology and pathway-dependency screening, as its activity at low concentrations in cell culture supports dose-response designs that link an observed biological effect to inhibition of the target pathway.
| Brand | TCI |
|---|---|
| CAS number | 606143-89-9 |
| Molecular formula | — |
| Purity | — |
| Category | Life Science > Cell Biology > Cell Signaling and Neuroscience |
| Pack sizes | available in research-scale quantities as supplied by the manufacturer; please confirm the packaging option required |
| Physical form | — |
| Storage | store according to the manufacturer's instructions on the product label and certificate of analysis |
- Product code: B6728
- Solubility: soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), suitable for preparation of concentrated stock solutions
Store the compound according to the storage conditions stated by the manufacturer on the product label, keeping the container tightly closed and protected from moisture. Stock solutions prepared in dimethyl sulfoxide should be kept in tightly sealed, clearly labelled vials, ideally divided into single-use aliquots to limit repeated freeze-thaw cycles and reduce moisture uptake by the solvent. Handle the material in a well-ventilated area or a fume hood, and use gloves, safety glasses, and a laboratory coat when weighing the solid or preparing solutions. Dilution into culture medium should be carried out under aseptic conditions in a biological safety cabinet. As with any research-grade compound intended solely for laboratory use, consult the safety data sheet before handling, avoid contact with skin and eyes, and dispose of unused material and contaminated consumables through the laboratory's chemical waste procedure.
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