Answer to Question #160443 in Organic Chemistry for sadra M kawakji

Question

Why do cells need to store glucose in the form of glycogen and what is the structural advantage of glycogen for animals as compared to either amylose or amylopectin?

Answer 1

Glycogen is more highly branched than amylopectin and amylose. The advantage of glycogen’s highly branched structure is that the multiple ends are where enzymes start to cleave off glucose molecules. As a result, with many ends available, it can provide glucose much more quickly to the body than it could if it was for example a linear molecule like amylose with only two ends.