Dextran structure

Dextran is an α-1,6-glycosidic linked D-glucan with side-chains α-1,3 linked to the backbone units of the Dextran biopolymer. The degree of branching is approximately 5% in native (unfractionated) dextran and decreases with decreasing molecular weight. The branches are mostly 1-2 glucose units long.

Dextran can be obtained from fermentation of sucrose-containing media by Leuconostoc mesenteroides B512F.