The molecular weight of a single glycogen is 108 daltons. Glycogen is present in cytoplasmic granules. The granules contain most of the enzymes necessary for glycogen synthesis and degradation. The structure of glycogen is basically a branched-chain of homopolysaccharides, which consist of α-D-glucose units made of up to 100,000 residues. The glucose units are joined together by α 1-4 linkage with 8–10 residues of glucose. Branching occurs through α 1-6 linkage as shown in Figure 8.10.

Figure 8.10 Branched Structure of Glycogen Showing α 1-4, α 1-6 Linkage