5.6.8 Uses of Triose Phosphate

Question 1

How is GP reduced to a 3C sugar, TP?

Answer 1

During the light-independent stage energy from ATP and hydrogen from reduced NADP (both products of the light-dependent stage) are used to reduce glycerate 3-phosphate (GP) to a phosphorylated three-carbon (3C) sugar known as triose phosphate (TP)

Question 2

What proportion of the TP molecules are used to produce useful organic molecules needed by the plant?

Answer 2

1/6th

Question 3

What can TP be used in?

Answer 3

• Triose phosphates can condense to become hexose phosphates (6C), which can be used to produce starch, sucrose or cellulose
• Triose phosphates can be converted to glycerol while glycerate 3-phosphates can be converted to fatty acids. These molecules join together to form lipids for cell membranes
• Triose phosphates can be used in the production of amino acids for protein synthesis

Question 4

What are the other 5/6th’s of TP used for?

Answer 4

Five-sixths of the triose phosphate (TP) molecules are used to regenerate ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP). This process requires ATP