interactions

Last reviewed 01/2018

The activity of glycogen phosphorylase is influenced by:

  • hormones:
    • adrenaline:
      • binds to plasma membrane alpha-adrenergic receptors
      • increase the cellular calcium concentration that increases the activity of phosphorylase kinase
    • insulin:
    • on binding with its plasma membrane receptor, it activates several secondary messenger systems
      • cAMP concentration falls with less activation of protein kinase
    • glucagon:
    • on binding with plasma membrane receptor, particularly in liver, adenylate cyclase is stimulated
      • cAMP concentration rises with increasing activation of protein kinase

  • intrinsic agents:
    • calcium:
      • important in muscle
      • increased concentration of calcium increases the activity of phosphorylase kinase a
    • energy state of cell: a low ratio of ATP/AMP results in increasing activation of phosphorylase b to a
  • glucose-6-phosphate: an increased level of this product of glycogen phosphorylase feedsback to inhibit the activity of the enzyme

The activity of glycogen phosphorylase is intimately related to glycogen synthase; glycogen synthase catalyzes the reverse reaction during glycogenesis. The interaction between both enzymes is considered in the submenu.