What is glycogen made up of?

2 Answers
May 18, 2017

See below.

Explanation:

The molecular formula of glycogen is #C24H42O21#. This means that in every one molecule of glycogen, there are #24# atoms of Carbon, #42# atoms of Hydrogen, and #21# atoms of Oxygen.

Below is glycogen's shape. The image shows the atoms Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen in the glycogen molecule.

![lookchem.com](useruploads.socratic.org)

To conclude, every molecule of glycogen consists of 24 atoms Carbon, 42 atoms of Hydrogen, and 21 atoms of Oxygen.

I hope that helps!

May 18, 2017

Glycogen is a branched polymer made up of smaller units. So glycogen is polysaccharide, formed of glucose sugar.

Explanation:

images.tutorvista.com

(useruploads.socratic.org)

One glycogen molecule may have upto thirty thousand glucose unit. There are 1 #->#4 glycosidic bonds between adjacent glucose molecules to form linear chains, while 1#->#6 glycosidic bonds are present at the origin of branches.

Though glycogen is polysaccharide, an enzymatic protein glycogenin is present at its core which helps in polymerisation of glucose in glycogen.