As reported previously (6, 7, 8), the glycogen particles from the rat liver and muscle appeared as the specific forms of spheroidal branching bodies. The branching structures were more clearly demonstrated in the glycogen particles from the fasted animal and these appearances were different from the aggregated structures. The chemical and physico-chemical properties of glycogens from the rat liver and muscle are demonstrated and discussed in this paper.
1. End group assay of the glycogens and β-amylase digestion degree suggested that the average chain length of the liver glycogen was longer than the muscle glycogen.
2. The viscosity of glycogen, measured by varing the temperature from 10°C to 70°C, showed the non-aggregated structure of the glycogen. particles.
3. The optical rotartory dispersion and circular dichroism spectra of the glycogen were measured using an addition of iodine solution, and only the muscle glycogen showed the Cotton effect.
4. The sedimentation coefficient of the liver glycogen showed the larger s value than the muscle one, and the relationship between s value and concentration of the glycogen was discussed.