NM - Glycogen Synthesis and Regulation

Question 1

What is one benefit of storing glucose as glycogen rather than glucose?

Answer 1

Glucose is converted into glycogen to effectively ‘inactivate’ it, as it has a low osmolarity compared to glucose that is osmotically active.

Question 2

How is the liver implicated in glycogen-glucose concentrations?

Answer 2

The liver is sensitive to blood glucose concentration.

It acts to maintain blood glucose under the control of insulin and glucagon.

Question 3

Glycogen has a branched structure.

Can you think of any physiological significance of this?

Answer 3

The molecule is created with branches so that, when we need to remove glucose from the chain one by one, we can start at many different points so as to do it faster.

Question 4

What are the two glucose linkages in glycogen?

Answer 4

α 1 → 4 glycoside linkage

α 1 → 6 glycoside linkage