Food Chemistry and Fish in Nutrition

6.2.3.2. Step 2. Action of glucan transferase

Another enzyme ( α -[1-4 ] α -[1-4 ] glucan transferase ) transfers a trisaccharide unit from one branch to the other, exposing the 1-6 branch point. The 1-6 linked glucose is hydrolysed by amylo 1-6 glucosidase. Then the action of phosphorylase can proceed. The combined action of phosphorylase and these other enzymes leads to the complete breakdown of glycogen.

THe glucose 6-phophate can be formed from glucose 1- phosphate by the action of phosphoglucomutase. In liver and kidney, glucose-6- phosphatase, coverts glucose 6- phosphate, to glucose enabling glucose to diffuse from the cell into the blood. This is the final step in hepatic glycogenolysis, which is reflected by an increase in the blood glucose.