Question

The number of ‘ends’ in a glycogen molecule would be

• A. Two, one on the left side and another on the right side
• B. One
• C. Equal to the number of branches plus one
• D. Equal to the number of branch points

Answer 1

The correct option is C Equal to the number of branches plus one

Structure of glycogen

Glycogen is a branched polysaccharide made up of glucose subunits where the glucose molecules form a chain and are linked by α-1,4 linkage and the branch of glucose is linked to the main chain by α-1,6 linkage. All the linear chains end up in one end while the other end is connected to another chain by a branch. Hence, the total number of ends is the number of branches plus one.


Final answer: a. Equal to the number of branches plus one