Biochemistry - Glycogen Metabolism - MCAT Practice Questions

What is glycogenesis?

A. The process of producing glycogen from glucose
B. The process of breaking down glycogen
C. The process of converting glucose to pyruvate
D. The process of fatty acid synthesis

Where does glycogenesis primarily occur?

A. Brain and kidneys
B. Liver and muscles
C. Heart and lungs
D. Adipose tissue and pancreas

Which glycolysis intermediate feeds into glycogenesis?

A. Pyruvate
B. Fructose 6-phosphate
C. Glucose 6-phosphate
D. Acetyl-CoA

Which enzyme creates the main chain of glycogen by forming α-1,4 glycosidic bonds?

A. Glycogen synthase
B. Branching enzyme
C. Glycogen phosphorylase
D. Debranching enzyme

Which enzyme creates branches in glycogen by forming α-1,6 glycosidic bonds?

A. Glycogen synthase
B. Branching enzyme
C. Glycogen phosphorylase
D. Debranching enzyme

What is glycogenolysis?

A. The process of synthesizing glycogen
B. The process of breaking down stored glycogen
C. The process of glucose synthesis from non-carbohydrates
D. The process of fatty acid oxidation

Which enzyme removes single glucose molecules from glycogen main chains by breaking α-1,4 glycosidic bonds?

A. Glycogen synthase
B. Branching enzyme
C. Glycogen phosphorylase
D. Debranching enzyme

Which enzyme breaks branches off glycogen by hydrolyzing α-1,6 glycosidic bonds?

A. Glycogen synthase
B. Branching enzyme
C. Glycogen phosphorylase
D. Debranching enzyme

What type of glycosidic bonds form the main chain of glycogen?

A. α-1,4 glycosidic bonds
B. α-1,6 glycosidic bonds
C. β-1,4 glycosidic bonds
D. β-1,6 glycosidic bonds

What type of glycosidic bonds form the branch points in glycogen?

A. α-1,4 glycosidic bonds
B. α-1,6 glycosidic bonds
C. β-1,4 glycosidic bonds
D. β-1,6 glycosidic bonds