Typically employed for tissue sections, in vivo neurons, and cultured cells, 3,000 MW dextrans are used to trace fine neuron projections and investigate gap junctions; 10,000 MW dextrans have slower distribution and longer cellular retention and do not cross gap junctions. The staining pattern produced by most of these labeled dextran products is lysine fixable.
Fluorescent and biotinylated dextrans are routinely used to trace neuronal projections. 3,000 MW dextrans are rapidly dispersed into fine cellular projections and can be used to investigate gap junctions. By contrast, the 10,000 MW dextrans are retained within the cell and do not cross gap junctions, and they have slower distribution but longer cellular retention. Fluorecent dextrans can be imaged directly. Biotinylated dextrans are suitable for secondary detection and signal amplification. These are offered in a range of fluorescent colors, and most conjugates are lysine-fixable for use in conjunction with antibody labeling. The 10,000 MW AlexaFluor® conjugates are generally brighter and more photostable. |
 Secondary motor neurons in a spinal cord whole mount of a male western mosquitofish labeled with lysine-fixable 3000 MW Texas Red® dextran. |
Properties
|
3,000 MW Dextran
|
3,000 MW Dextran, Fluorophore, Biotin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Readout | Direct fluorescence imaging of cells | Direct fluorescence imaging of cells; biotins easily accept secondary detection to amplify weak signals | |
| Carrier | Dextran, 3,000 MW | Dextran, biotin, 3,000 MW | |
| Tissue sections | Yes | ||
| In vivo neurons | Yes | ||
| Fixed tissue sections | No | ||
| Cultured cells | Yes | ||
| Cell loading | Microinjection | ||
| Staining mode | Endogenous | ||
| Best for | Single cells | ||
| Transport | Bidirectional | ||
| Synaptic transfer | No | ||
| Gap junction transfer | Yes | ||
| Bibliography | Citations | Citations | |
Selection Guide—Lysine-Fixable Dextrans
|
Standard filter set(s)
|
Fluorophore/conjugate
|
Ex/Em (nm)
|
Photobleaching resistance
|
Quantity
|
Cat. No.
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dextran, Biotin, 3,000 MW | NA | Biotin | NA | NA | 10 mg | D7135 |
| Dextran, Fluorescein and Biotin, 3,000 MW | FITC | Fluorescein | 494/518 |  |
5 mg | D7156 |
| Dextran, Tetramethylrhodamine and Biotin, 3,000 MW | TAMRA | TAMRA | 555/580 | |
5 mg | D7162 |
| Dextran, Fluorescein, 3,000 MW | FITC | Fluorescein | 494/521 | |
10 mg | D3306 |
| Dextran, Tetramethylrhodamine, 3,000 MW | TAMRA | TAMRA | 555/580 | |
10 mg | D3308 |
| Dextran, Texas Red®, 3,000 MW | Texas Red® | Texas Red® | 595/615 | |
10 mg | D3328 |
Selection Guide—Non-Fixable Dextrans
|
Standard filter set(s)
|
Fluorophore/conjugate
|
Ex/Em (nm)
|
Photobleaching resistance
|
Quantity
|
Cat. No.
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dextran, Rhodamine Green™, 3,000 MW | FITC | Rhodamine Green™ | 502/527 |  |
5 mg | D7163 |
| Dextran, Tetramethylrhodamine, 3,000 MW | TAMRA | TAMRA | 555/580 | |
10 mg | D3307 |
| Dextran, Texas Red®, 3,000 MW | Texas Red® | Texas Red® | 595/615 | |
10 mg | D3329 |
Properties
|
10,000 MW Dextran, Alexa Fluor®
|
10,000 MW Dextran, Fluorophore, Biotin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Readout | Direct fluorescence imaging of cells | Direct fluorescence imaging of cells; biotins easily accept secondary detection to amplify weak signals | |
| Carrier | Dextran, 10,000 MW | Dextran, biotin 10,000 MW | |
| Tissue sections | Yes | ||
| In vivo neurons | Yes | ||
| Fixed tissue sections | No | ||
| Cultured cells | Yes | ||
| Cell loading | Microinjection | ||
| Staining mode | Endogenous | ||
| Best for | Single cells | ||
| Fixable | Lysine-fixable | ||
| Transport | Bidirectional | ||
| Photobleaching resistance |  |
|
|
| Synaptic transfer | No | ||
| Gap junction transfer | No | ||
| Bibliography | Citations | Citations | |
Selection Guide
|
Standard filter set(s)
|
Fluorophore/conjugate
|
Ex/Em (nm)
|
Quantity
|
Cat. No.
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dextran, Alexa Fluor® 488, 10,000 MW | FITC | Alexa Fluor® 488 | 495/519 | 5 mg | D22910 |
| Dextran, Alexa Fluor® 546, 10,000 MW | TRITC | Alexa Fluor® 546 | 556/573 | 5 mg | D22911 |
| Dextran, Alexa Fluor® 555, 10,000 MW | Alexa Fluor® 555 | 555/565 | 5 mg | D34679 | |
| Dextran, Alexa Fluor® 568, 10,000 MW | Rhodamine | Alexa Fluor® 568 | 578/603 | 5mg | D22912 |
| Dextran, Alexa Fluor® 594, 10,000 MW | Texas Red® | Alexa Fluor® 594 | 590/617 | 5 mg | D22913 |
| Dextran, Alexa Fluor® 647, 10,000 MW | Cy®5 | Alexa Fluor® 647 | 650/668 | 5 mg | D22914 |
| Dextran, Alexa Fluor® 680, 10,000 MW | Cy®5.5 | Alexa Fluor® 680 | 679/702 | 5 mg | D34680 |
| Dextran, Tetramethylrhodamine and Biotin, 10,000 MW | TAMRA | TAMRA | 555/580 | 10 mg | D3312 |
| Dextran, Fluorescein and Biotin, 10,000 MW | FITC | Fluorescein | 494/518 | 10 mg | D7178 |