What type of glycosidic linkages are developed when excess glucose is to be stored for future use in animals?
What type of glycosidic linkages are developed when excess glucose is to be stored for future use in animals?
$\beta-1,4$ and $\alpha-1,4$
$\alpha-1,6$ and $\beta-1,4$
$\beta-1,6$ and $\beta-1,4$
$\alpha-1,4$ and $\alpha-1,6$
Solution
In animals, excess glucose is stored as glycogen, a polysaccharide that serves as a form of energy reserve. Glycogen is made up of glucose molecules connected by glycosidic linkages, and it has a highly branched structure.
- Alpha-1,4 glycosidic linkages connect glucose units in the linear chain of glycogen. These linkages form between the hydroxyl group on carbon 1 of one glucose molecule and the hydroxyl group on carbon 4 of the next glucose molecule.
- Alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages occur at the branch points of the glycogen molecule. These linkages form between the hydroxyl group on carbon 1 of one glucose molecule and the hydroxyl group on carbon 6 of another glucose molecule, creating the branches.