What is Amylopectin?
Amylopectin is believed to be the food product that plants store in their leaves, fruits, stems, and other parts of their bodies. It is a polysaccharide composed of monomers of D-glucose subunits and is a type of polymer.
Approximately 107-8 molecules are contained inside the Amylopectin structure. As a result, the amylase enzyme contributes to the breakdown of amylopectin. In addition, the enzyme amylase is found in our saliva, which aids humans in the process of breaking down this complex sugar into simple sugar in the mouth.
Amylopectin is thought to include almost seventy-five percent or more of the starch granules found in the plant’s leaves. It is found in various foods, including potatoes, rice, corn, and many others, and is an excellent energy source.
What is Glycogen?
Glycogen is considered the nourishment that animals and fungi store in their bodies. An Amylose and Amylopectin polysaccharide are the two subunits that make up a polysaccharide, and 2,4-glycosidic bond and 1,6-glycosidic bond comprise the structure of glycogen’s molecule.
Compared to amylopectin’s more complicated branching structure, glycogen’s structure features less complex branching. In addition, repeated branching happens when 8-12 units of the molecule have been completed. Another advantage is that the Glycogen molecule is also more significant than the Amylopectin molecule.
Glycogen is a soluble type of starch that, when combined with Iodine, produces a reddish-brown color when interacted with.
A substantial amount of glycogen is found in animal products such as meat, liver, and intestines, which can be consumed to make up for the deficit. Glycogen is a type of stored food found in a variety of tissues in humans, and it is thought to aid in the regulation of blood sugar levels in humans. Because when glycogen is digested, it releases an equal amount of glucose, this is the case.
Moreover, it is astonishing to learn that glycogen may be stored for up to 200 kilocalories, which is a negligible quantity of energy when required.
Difference Between Amylopectin and Glycogen
- A polysaccharide made up of glucose monomers, on the other hand, is amylopectin. In contrast, glycogen is a compound composed of both Amylose and Amylopectin that, when hydrolyzed, releases one unit of glucose.
- An amylopectin is a starch form that is insoluble in water, whereas glycogen is a starch form that is readily soluble in water.
- Amylopectin is a type of starch known as the plant’s storage food, whereas glycogen is a starch known as the animal’s and fungus’ storage food.
- A highly branched structure is described as being present in amylopectin, while a less branched form is described as being present in glycogen.
- Comparedlycogen, the amylopectin is significantly smaller in size, even though it has ais significantly larger
- Amylopectin repeats its branched structure in around 25-30 subunits, whereas glycogen repeats it in approximately 8-12 subunits.
Comparison Between Amylopectin and Glycogen
| Parameters of Comparison | Amylopectin | Glycogen |
| Definition | Glucose monomers are used to make polysaccharide Amylopectin. | It is also a polysaccharide, and when it is hydrolyzed, it releases glucose into the bloodstream. |
| Starch Form | This form of starch is not soluble in water. | Soluble in liquids, it’s a kind of starch. |
| Location | Plant starch is a type of store food used by plants and is referred to as such. | A ruminant’s primary source of nutrition is stored food. |
| Branching | Amylopectin has a highly branched structure, which is helpful for various purposes. | Glycogen has a less branching structure than glucose. |
| Branch Size | Amylopectin’s branch size is smaller than those of other peptides. | Compared to other sugars, the glycogen structure has a more significant number of branches. |
| Repeating of Branch Structure | Approximately every 25- to 30-subunits. | Approximately every 8-12 subunits. |