The products of photosynthesis are used in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, as well as in the synthesis of lipids, proteins, and other large molecules.
learning outcomes
You should be able to:
Identify the metabolic intermediates that link photosynthesis to other metabolic pathways.
Explain the efficiency of energy flow as it moves from the environment through living organisms on Earth.
How do common intermediates link the pathways of glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and photosynthesis?
See Figure 10.17. 3PG and G3P link the Calvin cycle and glycolysis. Acetyl CoA links glycolysis to the citric acid cycle.
Why is at most 5 percent of the solar radiation that reaches Earth converted to plant growth?
Most of sunlight is not absorbed by plants. This is because it has wavelengths that are not part of the absorption spectrum of plant pigments; because it is reflected back to space; and because it is not intercepted by plant organs (e.g., it reaches the ground).