Invitrogen™ Dextran, Amino, 500,000 MW

Labeled dextrans are hydrophilic polysaccharides most commonly used in microscopy studies to monitor cell division, track the movement of live cells, and to report the hydrodynamic properties of the cytoplasmic matrix. The labeled dextran is commonly introduced into the cells via microinjection. Dextrans are hydrophilic polysaccharides characterized by their moderate-to-high molecular weight, good water solubility, and low toxicity. They also generally exhibit low immunogeniticy. Dextrans are biologically inert due to their uncommon poly-(α-D-1,6-glucose) linkages, which render them resistant to cleavage by most endogenous cellular glycosidases.

• Label (Ex/Em): None (can be conjugated to dyes and other molecules using amine-reactive moities)
• Size: 500,000 MW
• Succinimidyl coupling of dyes to dextran molecule, which, in most cases, results in neutral or anionic dextran
• Reaction used to produce Rhodamine Green™ and Alexa Fluor™ 488 dextrans results in final product being neutral, anionic, or cationic
• Common uses include neuronal tracing (anterograde and retrograde) in live cells
• Cell lineage tracing in live cells
• Neuroanatomical tracing
• Examines intercellular communications (e.g., in gap junctions, during wound healing, and during embryonic development)
• Investigates vascular permeability and blood-brain barrier integrity
• Tracks endocytosis
• Monitors acidification (some dextran-dye conjugates are pH-sensitive)
• Studies hydrodynamic properties of cytoplasmic matrix

Cell Analysis, Cell Tracing and Tracking, General Cell Tracing, Neuronal Tracing