Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, contributing to structural integrity and protecting the membrane from damage. LPS consists of lipids and polysaccharides, low molecular weight carbohydrates with a molecular weight of 10-20 kDa, linked by covalent bonds, which, due to their presence in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, act as endotoxins and trigger a strong immune response. LPS also increases the negative charge of the cell membrane, helping to stabilize the overall structure of the bacterial membrane. LPS, also known as endotoxin, can induce a strong inflammatory response and/or sepsis when ingested by animals. Our EasyPrep LPS Extraction Kit is designed for efficient extraction of lipopolysaccharide from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. The kit does not use traditional chloroform or phenol methods and produces high-quality LPS that can be easily characterized and quantified using other reagents and methods. It uses bacterial membrane lysis buffer and our proprietary SP-Protease K for protein digestion, specifically to extract LPS individually from bacterial cultures (approx. 1-4% dry weight) and LPS yields are measured in micrograms.
