Abstract: The invention relates to the use of hyperbranched amylopectin which has an average branch degree of between >10 and 25 mol % and a molecular weight (Mw) ranging from 40.000-800.000 Dalton and the derivatives thereof in methods for surgical or therapeutic treatment of human or animal bodies or in a diagnostic method, preferably as a plasma volume expander. Plasma volume expanders based on hydroxy-ethylated amylopectin have, as a result of hydroxy ethylation, hitherto exhibited the disadvantage of incomplete metabolism and thus temporary tissue storage which is linked to side-effects. According to the invention, novel plasma expanders based on polysaccharides which do not exhibit the same disadvantages as the former are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assessing the ability of a compound to modulate the formation of a complex between a potassium channel and a protein tyrosine kinase. The method comprises the steps of (1) contacting a first polypeptide comprising the proline-rich binding region of the potassium channel, a second protein comprising the SH3 binding domain of the protein tyrosine kinase and the compound to be assessed; and (2) measuring the extent of complex formation between the first polypeptide and the second polypeptide.