Glycogen

Definition

Glycogen is a multi-branched polysaccharide of glucose that serves as a form of energy storage in animals and fungi. It is primarily stored in the liver and muscle tissues.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Glycogen is rapidly mobilized to glucose-1-phosphate during glycogenolysis, which can then enter glycolysis for energy production.
2. Glycogen synthesis (glycogenesis) occurs when there is excess glucose in the bloodstream, facilitated by insulin.
3. In the context of microbiology, some bacteria can store glycogen and utilize it during nutrient scarcity.
4. The presence of glycogen in the urogenital tract can influence microbial growth, affecting normal microbiota balance.
5. Glycogen degradation involves debranching enzymes that break down its complex structure into simpler glucose units.

Review Questions

• What are the primary locations where glycogen is stored in the human body?
• How does glycogen influence microbial growth in the urogenital tract?
• What are the main steps involved in glycogen synthesis and degradation?

Related terms

Glycolysis:

A metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, generating ATP.

Insulin:

A hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood glucose levels by facilitating cellular glucose uptake.

Polysaccharides:

Complex carbohydrates composed of long chains of monosaccharide units bound together.