DEAE-Dextran Chloride Form, 50g

DEAE-Dextran, a polycationic diethylaminoethyl ether of dextran is a stabilizing molecule and transfection reagent. The diethylaminoethyl groups are linked to glucose residues by ether linkages. DEAE-Dextran is used in the development of sustained release protein delivery and nucleic acid transfection systems. The use of DEAE-Dextran as an efficient adjuvant in vaccine production is well established. For instance, DEAE-Dextran has been used for immunization of guinea pigs and swine with inactivated foot-and-mouth disease and rhesus monkeys with inactivated Venezulean equine encephalomyelitis virus, IVEE. The mechanism of action of DEAE-Dextran is not clear. The effect on the humoral response of rhesus monkeys to IVEE vaccine results in a typical IgM-IgG response. It has been speculated that DEAE-Dextran may cause a stimulation of the helper T-cell function in antibody synthesis. DEAE-Dextran shows several important effects on cellular systems such as stimulates uptake of proteins and polynucleotides into cells, increases susceptibility of cells in culture to infection by viral RNA and DNA, increases sensitivity of viral plaque assays, inhibits growth of tumors in experimental animals, enhances antibody response in animals, stimulates interferon production induced by poly(I)-poly(C). Prepared from Dextran MW: 500,000