Question

Explain the structure of glycogen.

Answer 1

Glycogen is a polysaccharide and a polymer of glucose. It is stored in animal tissues e.g. liver adipose tissue, muscles, etc. When required it is broken down to provide energy.

Complete answer: Glycogen is a common homo-polysaccharide. It is a branched polymer of glucose (monosaccharide).
The glucose molecules are aligned in a linear fashion and they are linked by α(1🡪4) glycosidic bond. After every 8-10 glucose residues, a branch occurs.
The branch is different because, in it, the glucose residues are linked with α(1🡪6) glycosidic bond.

Glycogen can be broken down into glucose when required. It happens in the process called glycogenolysis. Here, the bonds in between the glucose residues get hydrolyzed; these residues are then used for respiration pathways to yield energy.
In simple words, glycogen is a branched homopolysaccharide of α-D-glucose linked by α(1 $\to$ 4) glycosidic bonds.

Note: Glycogen is an analogue of the starch in plants (found as their stored material). There are approximately 2000 to 6000 glucose residues in a glycogen molecule. Each glycogen granule has a central protein- glycogenin.