Glycogen debranching enzyme (GDE) has both 4-alpha-glucanotransferase and amylo-alpha-1,6-glucosidase activities. Here, we examined 4-alpha-glucanotransferase action of porcine liver GDE on four 6(4)-O-alpha-maltooligosyl-pyridylamino(PA)-maltooctaoses, in the presence or absence of an acceptor, maltohexaose. HPLC analysis of digested fluorogenic branched dextrins revealed that in the presence or absence of acceptor, 6(4)-O-alpha-glucosyl-PA-maltooctaose (B4/81) was liberated from 6(4)-O-alpha-maltopentaosyl-PA-maltooctaose (B4/85), 6(4)-O-alpha-maltotetraosyl-PA-maltooctaose (B4/84) and 6(4)-O-alpha-maltotriosyl-PA-maltooctaose (B4/83), whereas 6(4)-O-alpha-maltosyl-PA-maltooctaose (B4/82) was resistant to the enzyme. The fluorogenic product was further hydrolyzed by amylo-alpha-1,6-glucosidase to PA-maltooctaose (G8PA) and glucose. The ratio of the rates of 4-alpha-glucanotransferase actions on B4/85, B4/84 and B4/83 in the absence of the acceptor was 0.15, 0.42 and 1.00, respectively. The rates increased with increasing amounts of acceptor, changing the ratio of the rates to 0.09, 1.00 and 0.60 (with 0.5 mM maltohexaose) and 0.10, 1.00 and 0.58 (with 1.0 mM maltohexaose), respectively. Donor substrate specificity of GDE 4-alpha-glucanotransferase suggests complementary action of GDE and glycogen phosphorylase on glycogen degradation in the porcine liver. Glycogen phosphorylase degrades the maltooligosaccharide branches of glycogen by phosphorolysis to form maltotetraosyl branches, and phosphorolysis does not proceed further. GDE 4-alpha-glucanotransferase removes a maltotriosyl residue from the maltotetraosyl branch such that the alpha-1,6-linked glucosyl residue is retained.