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Podcast: The Rx Bricks Podcast
Episode: Glycogen Storage Diseases
Description: Glucose is the main source of energy for all forms of life, but it isn’t usually stored as individual C6H12O6 molecules. Animals use glycogen to do that job. Glycogen is a large branched polymer of glucose molecules, linked together by α-1,4 and α-1,6 glycosidic bonds. The liver and muscles break down the stored glycogen whenever the body needs an extra boost of glucose.
Glycogen storage diseases are genetic defects in glycogen metabolism resulting in accumulation of glycogen. What happens when macromolecules accumulate in cells? Cell damage and dysfunction.
Because the liver and muscle...