Final answer:
Glycogen is the protein primer for glycogen synthesis and the core protein found in every glycogen molecule in animals. It is formed through a process involving glycogen synthase, which adds glucose units and creates a linear chain, and the branching enzyme, which forms branch points in the glycogen molecule.
Step-by-step explanation:
Glycogen is the protein primer for glycogen synthesis and the core protein found in every glycogen molecule. It is an energy storage molecule in animals, consisting of glucose units joined by a-1,4-glycosidic linkages and branching through a-1,6-glycosidic linkages. Glycogen synthesis begins with the enzyme glycogen synthase, which adds glucose to the glycogen primer by making a-1→4 glycosidic linkages, forming a linear chain. Branching occurs through the action of the branching enzyme, which creates a-1→6 linkages.