Answer to Question #138890 in Organic Chemistry for Sienna

Question

Glucose is the most optimal substrate for glycolysis. Polysaccharides amylose, glycogen and cellulose are made of glucose units. Given the premise, these polysaccharides are a better substrates for glycolysis than glucose. Do you agree or not? and why

Answer 1

Amylose is a polysaccharide of glucose made of  (1-4) glycosidic bonds and is one of the two components of starch which is digested in the mouth by enzyme salivary amylase into maltose and maltotriose which can be used as a source of energy. Maltose is a disaccharide which is converted into monosaccharide which then enter into glycolytic pathway. Enzyme present in intestine  glucosidase removes individual glucose and then enzyme glycogen phosphorylase generates glucose 1 phosphate which is converted by phosphoglucomutase into glucose 6 phosphate which can enter into glycolytic pathway.

Glycogen is a storage form of glucose which is broken down by glycogen phosphorylase and debranching enzyme. Glycogen breakdown occurs internal to cells .primary enzyme is phosphorylase which works with debranching enzyme converting it into glucose 6 phosphate which eventually enters glycolytic cycle