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Dextran
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<p>Dextran is a complex branched <a href="/facts/Glucan/SGarVY1s">glucan</a> (<a href="/facts/Polysaccharide/lqXq2cJU">polysaccharide</a> derived from the condensation of <a href="/facts/Glucose/oUSkoLCD">glucose</a>), originally derived from <a href="/facts/Wine/przCrC98">wine</a>. <a href="/facts/IUPAC/2AV6myCK">IUPAC</a> defines dextrans as "Branched poly-α-d-glucosides of microbial origin having glycosidic bonds predominantly C-1 → C-6". Dextran chains are of varying lengths (from 3 to 2000 <a href="/facts/Atomic_mass_unit/IMATU3vf">kilodaltons</a>). </p><p>The polymer main chain consists of α-1,6 <a href="/facts/Glycosidic/xhYwU6sl">glycosidic</a> linkages between glucose monomers, with branches from α-1,3 linkages. This characteristic branching distinguishes a dextran from a <a href="/facts/Dextrin/UoSMwq9y">dextrin</a>, which is a straight chain glucose polymer tethered by α-1,4 or α-1,6 linkages. </p>