Glycogenesis Pathway

Notes

Glycogenesis is the building of glycogen! This process takes free glucose and uses it to build glycogen. 

Pathway: 

Glucose → G6P → G1P → UDP-glucose → glycogen

Step One: Glucose → G6P

*ATP INPUT*

Enzyme: Hexokinase

If you remember from the previous unit, this was used for the same purpose in glycolysis!

Step Two: G6P → G1P

*Irreversible*

Enzyme: Phosphoglucomutase

Step Three: G1P → UDP-Glucose

*UTP input*

Enzyme: UDP-Glucose phosphorylase

Step Four: UDP-glucose → Glycogen

Enzyme: Glycogen Synthase

Only forms alpha-1,4 bonds! (chain)

Step 5: Making branches

Enzyme: Branching Enzyme

This enzyme transfers 7 glucose molecules from a chain and moves it to create a new a-1,6 bond every 12 residues