Glycogen

Glycogen structure

Description

A polysaccharide that is the principal storage form of Glucose. Glycogen occurs naturally in the liver and muscles of mammals. Glycogen also is found in insects, fungi, and yeasts. It gives a positive test for Starch with Iodine (i.e. blue color).

Synonyms and Related Terms

animal starch; liver starch; Glykogen (Dan., Deut., Nor., Sven.); glucógeno (Esp.); glycogène (Fr.); glicogeno (It.); glycogeen (Ned.); glikogen (Pol.); glicogénio (Port.);

Other Properties

Soluble in water. Insoluble in ethanol.

Composition	C6H10O5
CAS	9005-79-2
Molecular Weight	mol. wt. > 300,000

Hazards and Safety

Mallinckrodt Baker: MSDS

Authority

• Thomas Gregory, The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Reinhold Publishing, New York, 3rd ed., 1942

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 138

• The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 4506