title: Evidence for the presence of glycogen in rat thymus.
abstract: Chemical and biochemical analysis of the polysaccharide, present in rat thymus, indicate that it consists of glucose units alpha-1,4 and alpha-1,6 linked. Electron microscopy reveals the presence of a polysaccharide, similar to the beta-glycogen particles observed in liver and muscle with an average diameter of 20-30 nm. They are located in the cytoplasmic area of T-cells from the cortical region of the thymus. Enzymatic analysis indicates that the beta-particles contain a highly branched glucan with short external chains. Some of the enzymes of glycogen metabolism: synthase, phosphorylase and branching were for the first time partially purified from rat thymus and some of their properties were studied. Therefore, glycogen appeared to be synthesized in rat thymus.
authors.affiliation: Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Salmoral
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Tolmasky
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Krisman
mesh_terms: D015061:1,4-alpha-Glucan Branching Enzyme / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006006:Glycogen Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D006005:Phosphorylases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D006003:Glycogen; D006005:Phosphorylases; D006006:Glycogen Synthase; D015061:1,4-alpha-Glucan Branching Enzyme