Does insulin inhibit glycogenolysis?
Does insulin inhibit glycogenolysis?
Answered
Yes, insulin inhibits glycogenolysis. Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas in response to high blood glucose levels. Its primary function is to lower blood glucose levels by promoting the uptake of glucose into cells and stimulating the storage of glucose as glycogen in the liver and muscle tissues. Insulin acts to inhibit glycogenolysis through several mechanisms. It directly suppresses the activity of glycogen phosphorylase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down glycogen into glucose-1-phosphate. Insulin also activates glycogen synthase, an enzyme involved in glycogen synthesis, further promoting the storage of glucose as glycogen. Additionally, insulin decreases the levels of cyclic AMP (cAMP), a second messenger that typically activates protein kinase A (PKA), which in turn activates glycogen phosphorylase. By inhibiting glycogenolysis, insulin ensures that glucose is stored rather than released into the bloodstream when blood glucose levels are already high.
BNO Team
