Team:NRP-UEA-Norwich/Collaborations/Manchester
Glyco2D
Glyco2D is the software we developed to display glycogen structures based on different parameters. We built Glyco2D based on the mathematical model described by Meléndez-Hevia et al. 1. This model described the structural properties of glycogen based on different parameters such as chain length, branching degree and the number of tiers. The model was able to demonstrate the optimal values of these parameters for maximizing the glucose stored in the smallest volume and the number of non-reducing ends. These optimal values were branching degree of 2, chain length of 13 glucose units and approximately 12 tiers 1. The software we developed uses these properties to predict the structure of the molecule2.
The software was created in C++ using openGL. The individual glucose molecules are represented by black squares and they are used as building blocks for the chains and branches.
To create the glycogen structures we made the following assumptions:
•The branching points on the chain are always the 5th and 9th glucose molecule on the chain.
• All chains are equal in length.
• The branching degree is 2 on each chain, except on the final tier.
Figure 1: A model structure of glycogen with acyl groups added.
