Products of Photosynthesis (Edexcel A Level Biology (A) SNAB): Revision Note

Products of Photosynthesis

• Intermediate molecules of the Calvin cycle such as glycerate 3-phosphate (GP) and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (GALP) are used to produce other biological molecules needed by plants

• GP is used to produce 

  • Amino acids which can be used in protein synthesis for building polypeptides

  • Fatty acids which form the tails of lipid molecules such as triglycerides and phospholipids

• GALP is used to produce:

  • Hexose sugars e.g. glucose 

    • Hexose sugars can be converted into other hexose sugars e.g. glucose can be converted to sucrose for transport in the phloem

    • Hexose sugars can be joined to make polysaccharides such as starch and cellulose

  • Glycerol can be used for building lipid molecules such as triglycerides and phospholipids

  • Nucleic acids form the basis of DNA and RNA

• Glucose can be used by the plant in respiration while other biological molecules are used to build new plant biomass

  • The molecules that make up plant biomass are passed on to consumers when plant tissue is eaten

The products of photosynthesis include amino acids, polysaccarides, lipids and nucleic acids