Question:medium

Which of the following enzymes is active in its dephosphorylated state?

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Fed-state insulin dephosphorylates and switches ON the glycogen-storing enzyme.
Updated On: Jun 25, 2026
  • Glycogen synthase
  • Glycogen phosphorylase
  • PFK-2 (phosphofructokinase-2)
  • Fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Reversible covalent modification controls the direction of glycogen metabolism. Protein kinase A adds a phosphate group; protein phosphatase-1 removes it. The rule for the storage pathway is simple: the enzyme that builds glycogen is turned on when the phosphate is removed.

$\text{Glycogen synthase}_{\text{(dephospho)}} \xrightarrow{\text{active}} \text{glycogen synthesis}$

This matches the fed state, where insulin activates phosphatases. Glycogen phosphorylase behaves oppositely - it needs the phosphate (phosphorylated form) to break glycogen down, which is the fasting/glucagon response. For the bifunctional liver enzyme, dephosphorylation activates the PFK-2 (kinase) activity to drive glycolysis, while phosphorylation favours the bisphosphatase. Thus among the classic storage enzymes, the one switched ON by dephosphorylation is glycogen synthase.

\[\boxed{\text{Glycogen synthase}}\]
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