Metadata only
Date
2016Type
- Encyclopedia Entry
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics
Abstract
Glycogen and starch are the two major storage forms of glucose in nature. Both are large glucose polymers formed by α-1, 4-glycosidic linkages with branch points introduced by α-1, 6-glycosidic linkages. Both are synthesized when conditions are nutritionally or energetically favorable for later use. The structures of glycogen and starch differ greatly. Glycogen has uniform branching, a minimal number of enzymes mediating its metabolism, and is cytosolic. Starch usually accumulates in specialized organelles, its major constituent amylopectin has nonuniform branching that allows highly organized, crystalline regions, and is metabolized by a complex set of enzymes and isoenzymes. Show more
Publication status
publishedExternal links
Book title
Encyclopedia of Cell Biology Second EditionVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
ElsevierSubject
Amylopectin; Amyloplast; Amylose; Branching enzyme; Chloroplast; Debranching enzyme; Dikinase; Glucan phosphatase; Glycogen; Glycogenin; Glycosidic linkage; Lafora disease; Laforin; Phosphorylation; StarchMore
Show all metadata
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics