glycogenolysis

Introduction

Utilization of glycogen stores to generate glucose-1-phosphate & glucose for glycolysis.

Three enzymes are involved:

• glycogen phosphorylase
  • cleaves alpha-1,4-glycosidic bonds
  • generates glucose-1-phosphate + glycogen (n-1)
• glycogen debranching enzyme
  • transferase & hydrolase activity
  • transfers a block of 3 glycosyl residues (1,4-alpha) from one branch to another to generate branch with 1 residue at 1,6-alpha linkage site
  • hydrolyzes alpha 1,6 glycosidic bond generate glucose + debranched glycogen (n-1)

More general terms

• catabolic pathway