glycogen

Last reviewed 08/2021

Glycogen is a complex polysaccharide that is used as an energy store in liver and muscle. It is composed of glucose residues arranged in a branched structure with 3 kinds of chain:

  • central C chains
  • B chains branching off from the C chain by 1,6 carbon linkages
  • A chains branching off from the B chains by 1,6 carbon linkages

Glycogenesis is the formation of glycogen from glucose. Glycogenolysis is opposite pathway.

Glycogenesis and glycogenolysis may be disordered - the glycogen storage diseases.