Question

Explain why it is important to animals for the major carbohydrate storage polymer, glycogen, to be branched rather than unbranched. Please be sure to make your initial post and respond to at least two classmates with additional questions and comments to further the discussion.

Answer 1

Answer: A branched polymer has greater terminal glucose residues in comparison to a unbranched polymer of the same molecular weight resulting in a higher number of terminal glucose residues required to be mobilized when energy is demanded. Enzyme and polymer evolve together to meet the dire need for rapid mobilization.

Explanation:

In comparison to an unbranched polymer, a branched polymer has a more compact and symmetrical molecular conformation with a greater terminal glucose residue. It can be broken down easily when energy is needed. For instance, the branched form of starch, amylopetin, in the small intestine starch is hydrolyzed to form glucose which is converted to biochemical energy and stored for later use.