70.7k views
1 vote
Sort the following enzymes according to those required for glycogen synthesis and those required for glycogen breakdown.

User Aballano
by
8.0k points

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

For glycogen synthesis, glycogen synthase is key, while glycogen breakdown requires glycogen phosphorylase and debranching enzyme. Amylase assists in the general digestion of carbohydrates like starch and glycogen but is not specific to the body's synthesis or breakdown of glycogen.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sorting the enzymes according to those required for glycogen synthesis and those required for glycogen breakdown involves identifying the specific role each enzyme plays in the metabolic pathways of glycogen. For glycogen synthesis, the main enzyme involved is glycogen synthase, which catalyzes the addition of glucose units to the growing glycogen chain. Conversely, the key enzymes for glycogen breakdown are glycogen phosphorylase, which cleaves glucose units from the non-reducing ends of glycogen, and debranching enzyme (amylo-1,6-glycosidase), which helps in the removal of branches within the glycogen molecule so that glycogen phosphorylase can continue its action.

Recapitulating, for glycogen synthesis, the activation of enzymes such as glycogen synthase, is essential. On the other hand, glycogen breakdown (glycogenolysis) involves glycogen phosphorylase and the debranching enzyme. Other enzymes such as amylase play a role in the digestion of carbohydrates like starch and glycogen into smaller units, and although related to carbohydrate metabolism, are not directly involved in glycogen synthase's synthesizing or breaking down processes in the body.

User Towler
by
8.9k points