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Dextran (also known as glucan) is a class of polysaccharides composed mainly of glucose units, specifically D-glucose units linked by α-(1-6) bonds. Its high molecular weight and specific structure depend on the microbial strain responsible for its production. This homogeneous polysaccharide is produced by the action of extracellular dextran sucrases, which are commonly found in lactic acid bacteria such as Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Weissella, and Pediococcus. Dextran is versatile and widely used in fields such as biochemistry, cell biology, drug delivery research, and gel electrophoresis. Dextran from Leuconostoc has been used: To mix with embryo suspensions in seawater to prepare cryo-imaging samples To cryofix zebrafish larvae by immersing their tails in water In the synthesis of vinyl sulfone-modified dextran (DX-VS) To synthesize methacrylate-functionalized dextran via an ester bond (DX-O-MeA) As a supplement in NCTC-135 tissue culture medium to prepare perfusion medium Dextran is a branched dextran composed of linear α(1→6) linked glucose units with branches initiated by α(1→3) linkages. The molecular weight of dextran ranges from 10,000 to 150,000 Kd. Dextran is used in a variety of applications as a volume expander, stabilizer, matrix component, binding platform, lubricant, and physical structural component. Dextran 40 is used to develop improved preservation solutions for transplanted organs. Dextran 40 can be used to determine cell compactness and flux parameters between cell layers. Dextran 40 can be used as a colloidal plasma volume expander. Biochemical/Physiological Actions Osmotic Balance: Dextran helps maintain osmotic balance by increasing the concentration of solutes in a solution. This prevents excessive water from crossing the cell membrane, thereby maintaining cell integrity and function. - Cryoprotection: Dextran acts as a cryoprotectant by forming a protective barrier around cells and tissues during freezing. This barrier inhibits the formation of ice crystals, which can damage cell membranes and structures. -Viscosity control: Dextran can change the viscosity of a solution by increasing its molecular weight. This change in viscosity affects the fluidity of the solution, making it useful for controlling the consistency of solutions in various processes. -Drug delivery: Modified dextran is used as a carrier for controlled drug delivery. Dextran can encapsulate drugs and release them gradually, increasing the solubility of the drug, controlling the release profile, and thus improving the therapeutic effect. -Gel electrophoresis: Dextran can increase the density of the sample loading solution in gel electrophoresis. This increased density helps the sample sink into the gel matrix, allowing for more precise separation of molecules based on size and charge during electrophoresis. -Enzyme stabilization: Dextran stabilizes enzymes by providing a protective environment. It forms a stable matrix around the enzyme, enhancing the enzyme's activity and extending its lifespan in various biochemical reactions. This protection prevents enzyme denaturation and inactivation, allowing the enzyme to function more effectively.
This compound belongs to the class of organic compounds known as fatty acyl glycosides of mono- and disaccharides. These are compounds composed of a mono- or disaccharide moiety linked to one hydroxyl group of a fatty alcohol or of a phosphorylated alcohol (phosphoprenols), a hydroxy fatty acid or to one carboxyl group of a fatty acid (ester linkage) or to an amino alcohol.
External Descriptors
a small molecule
1. Djoumbou Feunang Y, Eisner R, Knox C, Chepelev L, Hastings J, Owen G, Fahy E, Steinbeck C, Subramanian S, Bolton E, Greiner R, and Wishart DS. ClassyFire: Automated Chemical Classification With A Comprehensive, Computable Taxonomy. Journal of Cheminformatics, 2016, 8:61.
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