Answer to Question #27340 in Biochemistry for THENUKA URUTHTHIRAMOORTHY

Question

Why glucose is not stored in plants?

Answer 1

Glucose can't be stored in plants because high concentration of this molecules in the cell causes the absorption of water and it can cause possible cell destruction. Also glucose serves as a messenger for many processes in the cell and its presence in the cell could run processes that don't have to take place under normal conditions.Therefore glucose is stored in starch. Starch is not soluble in water and more compact than the single molecules of glucose. This means that more energy can be stored with starch than with glucose in the same volume.