Diethylaminoethyl cellulose

Schematic structure of DEAE-C: positively charged diethylaminoethanol groups can bind negative ions

Diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DEAE-C) is a positively charged resin used in ion exchange chromatography, a type of column chromatography, used in protein and nucleic acid purification/separation. Gel matrix beads are derivatized with diethylaminoethanol (DEAE) and lock negatively charged proteins or nucleic acids into the matrix, until released by increasing the salt concentration of the solvent. DE52 has a pKa of 11.5.

DEAE-Dextran (DEAE-D) is also used for transfecting animal cells with foreign DNA. It is added to solution containing DNA meant for transfection. It binds and interacts with negatively charged DNA molecules and via a largely unknown mechanism brings about the uptake of nucleic acids by the cell. This procedure is highly suited for transient transfection used for various molecular biology studies.

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