Re: pinhole Biology question on Photosynthesis

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From: Karen Kalumuck (karenk@exploratorium.edu)
Date: Tue Nov 05 2002 - 15:12:34 PST 

Message-Id: <v01540b0fb9edfcf9988f@[192.174.3.119]>
Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2002 15:12:34 -0800
From: karenk@exploratorium.edu (Karen Kalumuck)
Subject: Re: pinhole Biology question on Photosynthesis

Hi everyone!

Eric and his students ask an excellent question! Here's what's happening:

The glucose being formed is not being done so for the purpose of immediate
energy utilization. By running glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) back to
glucose, this serves to keep the fixed carbons as a storage fuel (it can go
into starch for long term storage) and also to provide hexose (6-carbon)
units for structural purposes in biosynthesis (e.g., polysaccharide
formation for cell walls).

 In fact, the G3P DOES enter glycolysis in a way, but the pathway is not
shunting the carbon
units directly towards pyruvate. It involves the pentose-phosphate shunt,
and if you've had some experience with college biochemistry and would like
to know more, do email me directly.

---Karen Kalumuck

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