glycogen

glycogen
A glucosan of high molecular weight, resembling amylopectin in structure [with α(1,4) linkages] but with even more highly branched [α(1,6) linkages, as well as a small number of α(1,3) linkages], found in most of the tissues of the body, especially those of the liver and muscle; as the principal carbohydrate reserve, it is readily converted into glucose. SYN: animal dextran, animal starch, hepatin, liver starch.
- g. synthase, g. starch synthase a glucosyltransferase catalyzing the incorporation of d-glucose from UDP-d-glucose into 1,4-α-d-glucosyl chains. A deficiency of the liver enzyme may lead to a type of hypoglycemia.

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gly·co·gen 'glī-kə-jən n a white amorphous tasteless polysaccharide (C6H10O5)x that constitutes the principal form in which glucose is stored in animal tissues, occurs esp. in the liver and in muscle and also in fungi and yeasts, and resembles starch in molecular structure and in the formation of only glucose on complete hydrolysis called also animal starch

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n.
a carbohydrate consisting of branched chains of glucose units. Glycogen is the principal form in which carbohydrate is stored in the body: it is the counterpart of starch in plants. Glycogen is stored in the liver and muscles and may be readily broken down to glucose.

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gly·co·gen (gliґko-jən) [glyco- + -gen] a large polysaccharide similar to amylopectin but more highly branched, consisting of chains of glucose residues in α-(1,4) linkage with branches created by α-(1,6) linkages. It constitutes the major carbohydrate reserve of animals, stored primarily in liver and muscle, and is synthesized and degraded for energy as demanded.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Glycogen — is a polysaccharide of glucose (Glc) which functions as the secondary short term energy storage in animal cells. It is made primarily by the liver and the muscles, but can also be made by the brain, uterus, and the vagina. [Anatomy and Physiology …   Wikipedia

  • Glycogen — Gly co*gen, n. [Gr. ? sweet + gen: cf. F. glycog[ e]ne.] (Physiol. Chem.) A white, amorphous, tasteless substance resembling starch, soluble in water to an opalescent fluid. It is found abundantly in the liver of most animals, and in small… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • glycogen — glycogen. См. гликоген. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • glycogen — starch like substance found in the liver and animal tissue, 1860, from Fr. glycogène, sugar producer, from Gk. glykys “sweet” (see GLUCOSE (Cf. glucose)) + Fr. gène (see GEN (Cf. gen)). Coined in 1848 by French physiologist Claude Bernard… …   Etymology dictionary

  • glycogen — [glī′kə jən, glī′kəjen΄] n. [ GLYCO + GEN] a polysaccharide, (C6H10O5) x, produced and stored in animal tissues, esp. in the liver and muscles, and changed into glucose as the body needs it …   English World dictionary

  • Glycogen — Ausschnitt aus einem Glykogenpolymer Das Glykogen (auch Glycogen, tierische Stärke oder Leberstärke) ist ein verzweigtes Polysaccharid (Vielfachzucker), das aus Glucose Einheiten aufgebaut ist. Glykogen dient der kurz bis mittelfristigen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • glycogen — /gluy keuh jeuhn, jen /, n. Biochem. a white, tasteless polysaccharide, (C6H10O5)n, molecularly similar to starch, constituting the principal carbohydrate storage material in animals and occurring chiefly in the liver, in muscle, and in fungi and …   Universalium

  • glycogen — n. a carbohydrate consisting of branched chains of glucose units. Glycogen is the principal form in which carbohydrate is stored in the body: it is the counterpart of starch in plants. Glycogen is stored in the liver and muscles and may be… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • glycogen — Branched polymer of D glucose (mostly a (1 4) linked, but some a (1 6) at branch points). Size range very variable, up to 105 glucose units. Major short term storage polymer of animal cells, and is particularly abundant in the liver and to a… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • glycogen —   n. form of carbohydrate stored in body, found especially in liver.    ♦ glycogenesis,   n. formation of sugar from glycogen.    ♦ glycogenic,    ♦ glycogenous, a …   Dictionary of difficult words

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