Journal article
Exploring glycogen biosynthesis through Monte Carlo simulation
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Vol.116, pp.264-271
2018
PMID: 29751035
Abstract
Glycogen, a complex branched polymer of glucose (average chain length ~10 monomer units), is the blood-sugar reservoir in humans and other animals. Certain aspects of its molecular structure relevant to its biological functions are currently unamenable to experimental exploration. Knowledge of these is needed to develop future models for quantitative data-fitting to obtain mechanistic understanding of the biosynthetic processes that give rise to glycogen structure. Monte Carlo simulations of the biosynthesis of this structure with realistic macromolecular parameters reveal how chain growth and stoppage (the latter assumed to be through both the action of glycogen branching enzyme and other degradative enzymes, and by hindrance) control structural features. The simulated chain-length, pair-distance and radial density distributions agree semi-quantitatively with the limited available data. The simulations indicate that a steady state in molecular structure and size is rapidly obtained, that molecular density reaches a maximum near the center of the particle (not at the periphery, as is the case with dendrimers), and that particle size is controlled by both enzyme activity and hindrance. This knowledge will aid in the understanding of diabetes (loss of blood-sugar control), which has been found to involve subtle differences in glycogen molecular structure.
Details
- Title
- Exploring glycogen biosynthesis through Monte Carlo simulation
- Authors
- Peng Zhang - Yangtze Normal UniversitySharif S. Nada - University of QueenslandXinle Tan - University of QueenslandBin Deng - Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyMitchell A Sullivan - Translational Research InstituteRobert G. Gilbert (Corresponding Author) - University of Queensland
- Publication details
- International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Vol.116, pp.264-271
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Date published
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.05.027
- ISSN
- 1879-0003
- PMID
- 29751035
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Biomedicine
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991035096302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Chemistry, Applied
- Polymer Science
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