View source for Uridine Diphosphate Glucose (UDP-glucose)

&nbsp;UDP-glucose is the activated form of glucose used in [[Glycogen synthesis|Glycogen synthesis]] as a glucose donor. The reaction of glucose 1-phosphate and uridine triphosphate (UTP), catalysed by UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, forms UDP-glucose by the removal of two phorphoryl groups from the UTP <ref>Berg J, Tymoczko J and Stryr L (2011) Biochemistry, 7th edition, New York, W.H. Freeman</ref> . Glucose 1-phosphate + UTP + H<sub>2</sub>0 --------&gt; UDP-glucose + 2P<sub>i&nbsp;</sub><br> 

[[Glycogen synthase|Glycogen synthase]]&nbsp;catalyses the formation of glycogen by adding the activated glucosyl unit from the UDP-glucose to the hydroxyl group on the carbon-4 atom of the glycogen molecule.&nbsp; 

Glycogen synthesis reaction: Glycogen<sub>n</sub> + UDP-glucose ----&gt; glycogen<sub>n+1</sub> + UDP<ref>Berg J, Tymoczko J and Stryr L (2011) Biochemistry, 7th edition, New York, W.H. Freeman</ref>&nbsp;<sub></sub> 

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