The liver plays an important role in modulating blood glucose levels by removing glucose from the blood during periods of abundance or secreting it into the blood when blood glucose concentration is low. However, the liver doesn't simply stockpile glucose. Rather, it polymerizes it into glycogen, which it can then hydrolyze back into glucose monomers as needed. Why would storage as glycogen be better than simply storing the glucose.

Question

Hana Yates

Biology

4 January, 12:05

The liver plays an important role in modulating blood glucose levels by removing glucose from the blood during periods of abundance or secreting it into the blood when blood glucose concentration is low. However, the liver doesn't simply stockpile glucose. Rather, it polymerizes it into glycogen, which it can then hydrolyze back into glucose monomers as needed. Why would storage as glycogen be better than simply storing the glucose.

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Answers (1)

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Molly Ferrell · Answer 1

Answer: glycogen is insoluble in water

Explanation:

Glycogen is a better storage of glucose because Glycogen is insoluble in water thus, because of the glycosidic linkages. Storing glucose as glycogen will not upset the osmotic pressure rather than glucose which is soluble in water and if it is stored as glucose it will disturb the osmotic pressure making the solution hypertonic that will cause the cell to lyse.

The glucose from glycogen is readily mobilized and is therefore a good source of energy when needed rather than free floating glucose