Uses of glucose

• Glucose produced in photosynthesis is used in various ways:
• First use: to release energy in respiration
• Respiration takes place in the mitochondria
• Photosynthesis only produces glucose during the day when there's light, but plant cells respire all the time, including at night
• Second use: to produce the insoluble storage molecule starch
• Starch can be converted back to glucose by the plant when needed, for example, at night
• In many plants, glucose produced in photosynthesis is converted to fats and oils
• Fats and oils are used by the plant as a storage form of energy
• Cellulose, found in the cell wall of plants, is made from the glucose produced by photosynthesis
• Final use: to produce amino acids
• Amino acids are used by the plant to synthesize proteins
• Plants need to absorb nitrate ions from the soil to make amino acids from glucose