Invitrogen™ Dextran, Tetramethylrhodamine, 10,000 MW, Neutral

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.

• Succinimidyl coupling of dyes to dextran molecule, which in most cases, results in neutral or anionic dextran
• Suitable for neuronal tracing (anterograde and retrograde) in live cells
• Cell lineage tracing in live cells
• Examining intercellular communications (e.g., in gap junctions, during wound healing, and during embryonic development); Investigating vascular permeability and blood-brain barrier integrity; Monitoring acidification (some dextran-dye conjugates are pH-sensitive)
• Studying hydrodynamic properties of the cytoplasmic matrix

• Most of dextrans labeled with tetramethylrhodamine dyes are essentially neutral
• To produce more highly anionic dextrans, proprietary procedure adds negatively charged groups to dextran carriers; these products are designated polyanionic dextrans

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