Glycogenesis and Glycogenolysis

Question 1

Which two areas in the human body store glycogen?

Answer 1

1. liver (maintains glucose levels)
2. skeletal muscle (used during exercise)

Question 2

What is the process of glycogenesis? Glycogenolysis**?

Answer 2

glycogenesis: stores glycogen

glycogenolysis**: breaks down glycogen

Question 3

Which polysaccharide functions as an energy storage unit in animals? Plants?

Answer 3

animals: glycogen

plants: starch

Question 4

[Mnemonic]

α-1,4 keeps the same branch moving “4ward”; α-1,6 (one-six) “puts a branch in the mix.”

(how to remember which branch in glycogen is linear or branched)

Answer 4

α-1,4 keeps the same branch moving “4ward”; α-1,6 (one-six) “puts a branch in the mix.”

α-1,4: linear branches

α-1,6: branching begins

Question 5

Which enzyme is the rate-limiting enzyme of glycogenolysis**?

Answer 5

Glycogen phosphorylase

Question 6

When glycogen is broken down into glucose, what is the name of this process?

Answer 6

Glycogenolysis

Question 7

Which enzyme is the rate-limiting enzyme of glycogenesis?

Answer 7

Glycogen synthase

Question 8

When glucose is stored as glycogen, what is the name of this process?

Answer 8

Glycogenesis

Question 9

Which pancreatic hormone stimulates/activates the process of glycogenesis?

Answer 9

Insulin

Question 10

Which pancreatic hormone stimulates/activates the process of glycogenolysis?

Answer 10

Glucagon

Question 11

Glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogenesis and glycogenolysis are easy to get mixed up. What occurs in each process?

Answer 11

Glycolysis: converts glucose to 2 pyruvate molecules

Gluconeogenesis: synthesizes glucose from non-carbohydrate sources

Glycogenesis: stores glycogen

Glycogenolysis: breaks down glycogen