Dextran sulfate sodium salt from Leuconostoc spp., Mr approx. 20,000

Not available outside of the UK & Ireland.

Application

Dextran sulfate is routinely used for the selective precipitation of lipoproteins, probe hybridization membrane-immobilized DNA, the release of DNA from DNA-histone complexes, and the inhibition of RNA binding to ribosomes.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Dextran sulfate can interact and bind to lipids making it useful in protein isolation techniques to remove contaminating lipid molecules.

General description

Dextran is a polymer of anhydroglucose. It is composed of approximately 95% alpha-D-(166) linkages. The remaining (163) linkages account for the branching of dextran.

Preparation Note

Sigma dextrans are derived from Leuconostoc mesenteroides.