∞ generated and posted on 2016.08.20 ∞
Glycogen is a more highly branched starch than that of plant starch such as amylopectin. This greater degree of branching results in greater compactness, which in turn is of utility to organisms that have to move about with their stored glucose readily available.
Indeed, glycogen is the primary glucose storage molecule of animals – as found in the liver and muscles – whereas glucose is a key energy storage molecule within cells as well as energy transport molecule between cells.
Glycogen is broken down via the action particularly of glycogen phosphorylase, producing glucose-1-phosphate from glycogen and ATP. Glycogen is synthesized primarily via the action of the enzyme, glycogen synthase.