Which polysaccharide serves as the storage form of glucose in animals?

Which polysaccharide serves as the storage form of glucose in animals?

• A. Cellulose
• B. Glycogen
• C. Starch
• D. Chitin

Answer: (B)

Animals store glucose as glycogen, a highly branched polymer of glucose. The chains predominantly use alpha-1,4 linkages with branches added by alpha-1,6 linkages, creating a structure that can be rapidly synthesized and broken down when energy is needed. This storage occurs mainly in the liver, to regulate blood glucose, and in muscle, to fuel contractions. The other polymers have different roles: cellulose is a plant structural polymer with beta-1,4 linkages; starch is the plant storage polysaccharide; chitin is a structural component in arthropods and fungi. So glycogen is the form used for glucose storage in animals.

Animals store glucose as glycogen, a highly branched polymer of glucose. The chains predominantly use alpha-1,4 linkages with branches added by alpha-1,6 linkages, creating a structure that can be rapidly synthesized and broken down when energy is needed. This storage occurs mainly in the liver, to regulate blood glucose, and in muscle, to fuel contractions. The other polymers have different roles: cellulose is a plant structural polymer with beta-1,4 linkages; starch is the plant storage polysaccharide; chitin is a structural component in arthropods and fungi. So glycogen is the form used for glucose storage in animals.