Question

What happens during glycogen breakdown?

Answer 1

We must have to remember that the glycogen is a polysaccharide which has a multibranched structure. And it is stored as an energy in bacteria, fungi and animals. In the case of humans, the glycogen is stored in the cells present in the liver and the skeletal muscles. The vertebrate stored the glycogen in the liver and it is also occupied in the fat cells and the muscles. And glycogen has different properties from starch like viscosity, solubility, molecular weight etc.

Complete answer:
We also need to remember that the breakdown of glycogen is known as glycogenolysis. In this process, the glycogen is break down into glucose. The glycogen is stored in muscles and liver as primary carbohydrate in animals. And it will be broken down into glucose and there is a formation of energy which maintains the blood glucose level in the time of fasting. The glycogen breakdown may increase the availability of glucose.
If the body needs more energy, it may cause the breakdown of glycogen to glucose. The enzyme glycogen phosphorylase may help to break down glycogen into glucose.

Note:
We need to know that the glycogen is mainly stored in liver and muscle cells. If the body needs more energy, the glycogen will break down into glucose and it may help to maintain the amount of blood – glucose level. The glucose is mainly found in our blood stream and it is used for the energy. The glycogen is the source which stores the energy. When decreasing the level of blood glucose, the glycogen will convert into glucose.