DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide)
DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide) — A polar aprotic solvent used to dissolve hydrophobic peptides. Commonly used at low concentrations (≤10%) as a co-solvent during reconstitution.
What Is DMSO?
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a polar aprotic solvent widely used in peptide research as a co-solvent for dissolving hydrophobic peptides, as a cryoprotectant for cell freezing, and as a vehicle for in vivo peptide administration. DMSO dissolves most peptides regardless of hydrophobicity and is miscible with water in all proportions.
Guidelines
- Cell assays: Keep DMSO < 0.1-1% to avoid cytotoxicity. Always include vehicle control
- Stock solutions: Prepare 10-100 mM stocks in DMSO, dilute into aqueous buffer for experiments
- Storage: Hygroscopic. Use molecular biology-grade DMSO. Aliquot to avoid freeze-thaw
- In vivo: Maximum 5-10% DMSO in injectable vehicle
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide)?
A polar aprotic solvent used to dissolve hydrophobic peptides. Commonly used at low concentrations (≤10%) as a co-solvent during reconstitution.
Why is DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide) important in peptide research?
DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide) is a fundamental concept in reagent as it relates to peptide science. It directly influences experimental design, compound characterization, and the reliability of research outcomes across biochemistry and molecular biology disciplines.
Authority Sources
- DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide) on Wikipedia
- Search DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide) on PubChem (NIH)
- Research articles on ScienceDirect