Biosynthesis of glycogen from uridine diphosphate glucose

An enzyme which leads to the formation of glycogen according to the equation: UDPG + primer → UDP + glucosyl α (1 → 4) primer has been studied. The optimal conditions for activity were determined with a partially purified preparation from rat muscle. The reaction requires the presence of a polysaccharide as primer and is strongly activated by hexose 6-phosphates. Using UDPG labeled in the glucose moiety, it was found that the radioactivity was transferred to the glycogen from which it could be removed as maltose with β-amylase or as G-1-P with phosphorylase. Thus it seems that the glucose residue becomes linked α (1 → 4) to the polysaccharide. Several inhibitors were tested as well as the occurrence of the enzyme in different organs. © 1959. ; Fil:Goldemberg, S.H. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. ; Fil:Carminatti, H. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.