Glycogen Synthase Mechanism

The video tutorial explains the process of glycogen synthesis, focusing on the role of glycogen synthase and UDP-glucose. It describes the mechanism of chain lengthening through SN2 reactions, involving the catalytic action of glutamate. The tutorial also covers the formation of A1 to 4 linkages and the significance of alpha confirmation in glycogen structure.

How does the deprotonation of the terminal glucose's oxygen facilitate the elongation of the glycogen chain?

What is the importance of the alpha configuration in the A1 to four linkages of glycogen?