Question

Glycogen is a branched chain polymer of $\alpha - D$ glucose units in which chain is formed by ${C_1} - {C_4}$ glycosidic linkage whereas branching occurs by the formation of ${C_1} - {C_6}$ glycosidic linkage. Structure of glycogen is similar to:
A. amylose
B. amylopectin
C. cellulose
D. glucose

Answer 1

Glycogen is a polysaccharide of glucose and consists of a linear chain like structure and a branched chain like structure. When there is a formation of ${C_1} - {C_6}$ glycosidic linkage, a structure similar to glycogen is formed which is known as amylopectin.

Complete answer:
The amylopectin is a polysaccharide of $\alpha - D$ glucose and is water soluble in nature. It acts as a counterpart for glycogen in the animals and has the same composition with similar structure as glycogen. It also has two types of glycosidic bonds. Amylopectin is also a branched chain polymer of $\alpha - D$ glucose units in which chain is formed by ${C_1} - {C_4}$ glycosidic linkage whereas branching occurs by the formation of ${C_1} - {C_6}$ glycosidic linkage. It forms one of the major sub parts of starch, the other sub part being amylose. The branching in amylopectin takes place at every 24 to 30 glucose units which results in an increased solubility in water. Glycogen is a branched chain polymer of $\alpha - D$ glucose units in which chain is formed by ${C_1} - {C_4}$ glycosidic linkage whereas branching occurs by the formation of ${C_1} - {C_6}$ glycosidic linkage.

So, the correct answer is Option B.

Note:
The only difference between glycogen and amylopectin is that glycogen has a more extensive branching that occurs between every 8 to 12 glucose units whereas in the case of the amylopectin, as mentioned above, this branching occurs every 24 to 30 glucose units.