Effectively to function in various conditions, the human body needs a power reserve. Performs this function including a glycogen. This connection belongs to complex carbohydrates. The glycogen meets only in human bodies and animals.
What is a glycogen
The glycogen represents complex carbohydrate. It is formed of coming to an organism with glucose food in the course of glycogenesis. In terms of chemistry it is colloid polysaccharide with the branched chain consisting of residues of glucose.
From the point of view of structure the glycogen is hundreds of glucose molecules connected among themselves in a special way. Sometimes the glycogen is called "animal starch", it meets only in organisms of living beings.
Function of a glycogen is in being a glucose reserve for an organism.
How does synthesis of this carbohydrate happen? At the time of meal, carbohydrates (for example, lactose, sucrose, a maltose, starch) are split under the influence of special enzyme on small molecules. After that within a small intestine sucrose and pancreatic amylase participate in hydrolysis of residues of carbohydrates to monosaccharides. One part of the released glucose comes to a blood-groove and goes to a liver. Other part passes into cages of other bodies.
In muscle cells there is a disintegration of a monosaccharide of glucose (glycolysis). Oxygen usually participates in this process. There is a synthesis of molecules ATP which represent a source of universal energy for any living organisms. However not all glucose that is entered into an organism with food, goes for ATP synthesis. Some of its part stocks up in the form of a glycogen. In the course of glycogenesis there is a polymerization – consecutive connection of monomers of glucose to each other. Under the influence of special enzymes the branched polysaccharide chain is formed.
The received glycogen is stored in cytoplasm of some cages of an organism in the form of granules. Most of all glycogen stocks up in muscle tissue and a liver. At the same time the muscular glycogen becomes a valuable source of glucose for muscles. And the glycogen which contains in a liver allows to maintain the correct concentration of glucose in blood.
The liver represents the second largest body organ after skin. This gland very heavy – the weight of a liver reaches at the adult one and a half kilograms. One of important functions of this body – maintenance of carbohydrate exchange. Being some kind of filter, the liver participates in maintenance of the necessary level of glucose in blood. It – some kind of buffer of glucose. The liver with its regulatory function is extremely necessary for an organism.
Some stock of a glycogen contains:
- in cells of heart;
- in nervous cages;
- in connecting fabric;
- in an epithelium;
- in a mucous membrane of a uterus;
- in fabrics of embryonic type.
For what the organism needs a glycogen
The glycogen is a power reserve of an organism. When there is an urgent need, the organism can quickly receive glucose from a glycogen. There is it as follows. The glycogen breaks up in intervals between separate meals. Its disintegration also strongly accelerates at serious physical activity. Such process goes by means of an otshchepleniye of the glucosic remains at impact on them of special enzymes. As a result the glycogen breaks up to glyukozo-6-phosphate and free glucose. At the same time expenses of ATP do not occur.
One of the most important internals of a human body is the liver: it performs a number of extremely important functions providing activity. One of such functions – maintenance of normal level of sugar in blood. The correct level is necessary for work of a brain.
Glycogen stocks in a liver are necessary for a covering of needs for glucose on all organism. And here glycogen stocks in muscle tissue can be used only locally. In other words: when performing squats the body consumes a glycogen only from muscles of legs. Glycogen stocks in other muscles at the same time are not spent.
The glycogen stocks up not in muscle fibers directly, and in the nutritious liquid surrounding these fibers. The size of glikogenovy depots is influenced by regular power loadings. At the same time muscles become larger and volume.
The main source of replenishment of stocks of a glycogen – carbohydrates from food. The glycemic index of any given carbohydrate is lower, the more slowly from gives energy to blood.
If sugar level in blood goes down, in blood phosphorylase becomes more active. Then the glycogen is split. Glucose moves in blood, providing an organism with energy. In case of increase in level of sugar (for example, after a meal) cells of a liver start active synthesis of a glycogen.
Considerable deviations of level of glucose from normal values are hazardous to health.
Violations at synthesis of a glycogen
Violations in exchange of a glycogen are considered as hereditary diseases. Different defects of enzymes which directly participate in control of processes of formation of a glycogen and its splitting become the causes of failures.
Among glikogenovy diseases allocate glikogenoza and aglikogenoza. The first type of violations – very rare hereditary pathology. It is caused by accumulation of polysaccharides in organism cages. Excess finding of a glycogen in a liver, kidneys, lungs, muscles is caused by defects in structure of the enzymes participating in processes of disintegration of a glycogen.
At a glikogenoza characteristic violations in development of separate bodies, a delay in formation of psychomotility, serious conditions (are quite often observed up to a coma). To confirm the diagnosis and to define concrete type of a glikogenoz, carry out a biopsy of muscles and a liver. Then the selected material goes to a histochemical research. In such a way it is possible to define the maintenance of a glycogen in fabrics, to learn what activity of the enzymes responsible for its synthesis and disintegration.
Not less heavy hereditary disease is aglikogenoz. He is called by lack of enzyme which can influence synthesis of a glycogen. At such pathology in fabrics almost completely there is no glycogen. The diagnosis is made on the basis of a liver biopsy. Manifestations of an aglikogenoz:
- very low content of glucose in blood;
- hypoglycemic spasms;
- critical condition of the patient.
Impact of synthesis of a glycogen on health
The glycogen is a power reserve which can be put very quickly into operation. After meal the organism incorporates so much glucose how many it is required to it to provide mental activity and physical activity. Other glycogen is stored in a liver and muscle tissue: it is required later.
At sports activities or at serious physical activity the organism begins to consume the saved-up glycogen stocks. In several hours without meal the stocks of a glycogen come to an end. But nervous system continues to demand it. Then there is a slackness, physical reactions become weaker. The person loses ability to concentrate.
The organism starts synthesis of a glycogen necessary to it. Insulin which provides delivery to cells of glucose and promotes synthesis of a glycogen gets to a blood-groove. After physical activity the organism restores glycogen stocks – for this purpose it is necessary to eat something only. If the person limits himself in consumption of the food containing glucose first of all heart suffers. And if in an organism of glucose there is a lot of, it begins to turn into fat. And the organism needs a lot of time that to burn it. First of all it is necessary to remember it that who suffers from excess weight.