| Description | Methyl-β-cyclodextrin is a randomly methylated form of the cyclic oligosaccharide β-cyclodextrin . Methyl-β-cyclodextrin contains seven D-(+)-glucopyranose units that contain randomized hydrogen or methyl groups. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin has been used to improve the aqueous solubility of various compounds and to extract cholesterol from lipid membranes. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin (5 mM) reduces α-synuclein levels in the membrane and detergent-insoluble fractions from B103 neuroblastoma cells transfected with human α-synuclein. It also reduces α-synuclein levels in mouse brain in a transgenic model of α-synucleinopathy. |
| Chemical Properties | White powder |
| Uses | substrate for laminarinase and other glucanases |
| Uses | Cavity size is the major determinant as to which cyclodextrin is used in complexation. The cavity diameter of β-cyclodextrins or β-glucopyranose unit compounds is well-suited for use with molecules the size of hormones, vitamins and many compounds frequently used in tissue and cell culture applications. For this reason, β-cyclodextrin is most commonly used as a complexing agent. It is used to increase the solubility of non-polar substances such as fatty acids, lipids, vitamins and cholesterol for use in cell culture applications. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin is used to remove cholesterol from cultured cells and is employed to remove lipid rafts. |
| Uses | Methyl-β-cyclodextrin is a cholesterol-removing agent mainly used for lipid raft disruption. It may also be used for detergent removal from protein-lipid-detergent ternary mixture to produce 2D membrane protein crystals due to its high solubility and affinity for detergents generally used in membrane protein chemistry. |
| General Description | Methyl-β-cyclodextrin is a small cyclic heptasaccharide. |
| Biochem/physiol Actions | Methyl-β-cyclodextrin participates in increasing the permeability of cells. It also plays a role in depolymerizing the actin cytoskeleton in cells. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin is involved in attracting cholesterol from the plasma. It participates in activating extracellular receptor kinase in certain cells. |
