What metabolic process breaks down glycogen to glucose?

What metabolic process breaks down glycogen to glucose?

• A. Glycogenesis
• B. Gluconeogenesis
• C. Glycogenolysis
• D. Fermentation

Answer: (C)

The correct answer, glycogenolysis, is the metabolic process responsible for breaking down glycogen into glucose. Glycogen, a polysaccharide stored primarily in the liver and muscle tissues, serves as a readily available source of glucose, which is crucial for energy production, especially during periods of fasting or intense physical activity. During glycogenolysis, glycogen is enzymatically cleaved to release glucose-1-phosphate. This glucose-1-phosphate can then be converted to glucose-6-phosphate, which plays a key role in both glycolysis and the pathway for gluconeogenesis, depending on the body's energy requirements. In contrast, glycogenesis refers to the process of synthesizing glycogen from glucose, gluconeogenesis is the formation of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, and fermentation is an anaerobic process that converts sugars into acids, gases, or alcohol. Each of these processes serves different physiological purposes and occurs in different contexts within the body's metabolism.

The correct answer, glycogenolysis, is the metabolic process responsible for breaking down glycogen into glucose. Glycogen, a polysaccharide stored primarily in the liver and muscle tissues, serves as a readily available source of glucose, which is crucial for energy production, especially during periods of fasting or intense physical activity.

During glycogenolysis, glycogen is enzymatically cleaved to release glucose-1-phosphate. This glucose-1-phosphate can then be converted to glucose-6-phosphate, which plays a key role in both glycolysis and the pathway for gluconeogenesis, depending on the body's energy requirements.

In contrast, glycogenesis refers to the process of synthesizing glycogen from glucose, gluconeogenesis is the formation of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, and fermentation is an anaerobic process that converts sugars into acids, gases, or alcohol. Each of these processes serves different physiological purposes and occurs in different contexts within the body's metabolism.