What is the enzymatic formation or synthesis of glycogen known as?

The process involved in the formation or synthesis of glycogen is known as glycogenesis. This process occurs primarily in the liver and muscle tissues, where glucose molecules are linked together to form glycogen, which serves as a storage form of glucose. The enzyme glycogen synthase plays a crucial role in this process by facilitating the addition of glucose units to a growing glycogen chain.

Glycogenesis is an essential metabolic pathway that helps maintain blood glucose levels during periods of fasting or intense physical activity, as the stored glycogen can later be broken down into glucose when energy is required.

In contrast, glycogenolysis refers to the breakdown of glycogen into glucose, gluconeogenesis is the synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors, and glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, releasing energy. Each of these processes serves distinct roles in metabolism, further highlighting the specificity of glycogenesis in the context of glycogen synthesis.