Table 2. Theoretical and simulated glucosyl residue content in each tier of the glycogen molecule.

		Glucosyl residues
Tier	Theoretical maximum	Whelan model	Simulation	Simulated populationa (%)	Simulated populationb (%)
1	13	13	13	100	0.024
2	26	26	26	100	0.049
3	52	52	52	100	0.098
4	104	104	104	100	0.19
5	208	208	208	100	0.39
6	416	416	416	100	0.78
7	832	832	832	100	1.56
8	1,664	1,664	1,664	100	3.13
9	3,328	3,328	3,328	100	6.25
10	6,656	6,656	6,656	100	12.5
11	13,312	13,312	13,304	>99.9	25.0
12	26,624	26,624	23,286	87.5	43.7
13	53,248	0	3,340	6.3	6.3

The simulated values are in good agreement with the prediction of the Whelan model for β-glycogen. The surface of the molecule (i.e., the part undergoing turnover) is characterized by a lower homogeneity compared with the prediction of the Whelan model, which is identified in the outermost ∼3,300 glucosyl residues belonging to the thirteenth tier.

^aAs compared with the theoretical maximum.

^bRelative to the total glucose content in the mature glycogen molecule given by the simulations (53,299 glucosyl residues).