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The 5 Main Uses of Glucose - Coggle Diagram
The 5 Main Uses of Glucose
Respiration
Glucose + Oxygen = Carbon Dioxide + Water (+ Energy)
Plants use glucose for respiration
Respiration happens in the mitochondria
Glucose is the molecule normally used for respiration – it is the main respiratory substrate. Glucose is oxidised to release its energy
Storage
Soluble glucose is covered into insoluble starch for storage
This starch can then be stored in roots, leaves, or stems
Starch is a great storage molecule because it is insoluble so it doesn't affect the osmotic potential of cells
Seeds
Glucose is turned into lipids for storing in seeds. Seeds also store starch.
For example, sunflower seeds contains a lot of oil. We get oil and margarine from them
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat
Cellulose
Glucose is converted into cellulose or making cell walls, especially in a rapidly growing plant.
The cell wall is a tougher layer that surrounds plant cells
It is located outside the cell membrane and provides cells with structural support and protection
They allow plants to grow tall without any other support
A significant function of the cell wall is to act as a pressure vessel preventing over-expansion when water enters the cell by osmosis
Protein Synthesis
Glucose is combined with nitrates to make amino acids which are then made into proteins.
Enzymes are proteins, as too are many structural parts of plants, and even organelles within cells are composed of protein.
Nuts and seeds always contain large amounts of protein, as they need to sustain the plant in its first few days of life.