Glycogenesis

What is glycogenesis?

Synthesis of glycogen

What is the first step in glycogenesis?

UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase converts glucose-1-phosphate into UDP glucose and releases a pyrophosphate

What is the second step in glycogenesis?

Glycogen synthase binds UDP glucose with the non-reducing end of a glycogen chain to produce an elongated glycogen chain

What is the third step in glycogenesis?

Glycogen branching enzyme transfers a block of glucose residues from the non-reducing end to the C6 hydroxyl group of a glucose residue in a more interior position

What is the (occasional) fourth step in glycogenesis?

Glycogen synthase cannot initiate synthesis of new glycogen chain as a primer is required- primer is usually a pre-formed 1-4 polyglucose chain
glycogenin is both the primer on which new chains are formed and the enzyme that catalyses the assembly