Function

BIOCHEMISTRY 3(2+1)
Lesson 19 : Glycogenolysis

Function

Glycogenolysis transpires in the muscle and liver tissue, where glycogen is stored, as a hormonal response to epinephrine (e.g., adrenergic stimulation) and/or glucagon, a pancreatic peptide triggered by low blood glucose concentrations produced in the Alpha cells of the Islets of Langerhans.

  • Liver (hepatic) cells can consume the glucose-6-phosphate in glycolysis, or remove the phosphate group using the enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase and release the free glucose into the bloodstream for uptake by other cells.
  • Muscle cells in humans do not possess glucose-6-phosphatase and hence will not release glucose, but instead use the glucose-6-phosphate in glycolysis

Clinical significance

Parenteral (intravenous) administration of glucagon is a common human medical intervention in diabetic emergencies when sugar cannot be given orally

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Last modified: Saturday, 21 January 2012, 6:59 AM