Dextran is a
polysaccharide (a chain of simple
sugars) composed of
glucose monomers (units of a
polymer, such as a
polysaccharide).
It is used by bacteria and yeasts as a means of storing food energy. When dextrans are formed out of sucrose by bacteria in the mouth, they help create dental plaque.
Based on work I did for the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.