Question

Describe the role of glycogenin.

Short answer

Answer:

Glycogenin helps in the synthesis of glycogen. The glycogen chain is to be extended from a primer built by the protein glycogenin.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Glycogenin

Glycogenin is known to be a homodimer of 37-kDa subunits. This enzyme is classified as a glycosyltransferase

Glycogenin reaction

Glycogeninacts is a glycosyltransferase which attaches a glucose residue to the OH group of its Tyr 194. This enzyme later helps extend the glucose chain by up to seven additional residues, which will help form a glycogen primer. The glucose residues are donated by UDPG (uridinedisphophoglucose).