In: Chemistry
Glycogen is reducing or non-reducing ? If can explain the reason too ? It is a Biochemistry related question.
Glycogen is a polymer of glucose (up to 120,000 glucose residues) and is a primary carbohydrate storage form in animals. The polymer is composed of units of glucose linked alpha(1-4) with branches occurring alpha(1-6) approximately every 8-12 residues. The end of the molecule containing a free carbon number one on glucose is called a reducing end. The other ends are all called non-reducing ends. Related polymers in plants include starch (alpha(1-4) polymers only) and amylopectin (alpha (1-6) branches every 24-30 residues).
Glycogen is not as reduced as fatty acids are and consequently not as energy rich.The controlled breakdown of glycogen and release of glucose increase the amount of glucose that is available between meals. Hence, glycogen serves as a buffer to maintain blood-glucose levels. Glycogen's role in maintaining blood-glucose levels is especially important because glucose is virtually the only fuel used by the brain, except during prolonged starvation.