GLYCOGEN

1. Polymer of a-D-glucose. It has 5000-30000 units of a-D-glucose.
2. Glycogen is glucosan homopolysaccharide which is the major reserve food of animals, fungi and some bacteria.
3. It is also called animal starch.
4. Glycogen is stored in liver and muscles.
5. Human liver may have upto 0.91 kg of glycogen.
6. Glycogen occurs in the form of small ellipsoid-flattened granules that lie in contact with smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
7. Glycogen is formed in situ from glucose through the process of condensation or glycogenesis.
8. It is being regularly hydrolysed to form glucose for use by body cells. The phenomenon of glycogen degradation to form glucose is known as glycogenolysis.
9. Glycogen is soluble in water.
10. With iodine, it gives red colour.
11. It is highly branched molecule.