What are the important differences between amylose, amylopectin, and glycogen. Where would each be found?

Question

What are the important differences between amylose, amylopectin, and glycogen. Where would each be found?

Answer 1

Amylose is a polysaccharide made of alpha glucose sugars joined by1-4 glycosidic bonds. Amylopectin is also a polysaccharide made of alpha glucose sugars joined by1-4 glycosidic bonds but it has 1-6 branches. Both amylose and amylopectin are of plant origin and are the two components of starch.

Glycogen is the animal equivalent of amylopectin and is found in liver and muscle. Like starch it is an energy storage compound.

Answer 2

The difference between the three starches has to do with the branching. Amylose does not contain any branching and has an alpha 1,4 bond that promotes the formation of a AmyBecause of this property, amylose is the preferred storage form of starch in plants. Amylopectin is the other form of starch in plants. Glucose molecules are linked in straight chains via the alpha 1,4 bond. Amylopectin contains branching, using alpha 1,6 bonds.

Glycogen is found in animals and is analogous to amylopectin. Glycogen is more highly branched than amylopectin. Humans can make their own glycogen in the liver and muscles, and it is used as an energy source when glucose is deficient.