The nutritional requirements of Leuconostoc dextranicum for growth and dextran synthesis.

The recent literature contains numerous references to the use of partially hydrolyzed dextrans as plasma substitutes (Bull et al., 1949; Thorsen, 1949). Because of this interest, and as part of a general study of bacterial polysaccharide synthesis, the nutritional requirements of the major dextran forming organisms, Leuconostoc mesenteroides and L. dextranicum, are being investigated (WhitesideCarlson and Carlson, 1949a). The present report deals with Leuconostoc dextranicum, strain "elai," which is unique in causing essentially complete conversion of the glucose half of the sucrose molecule into dextran.