Question

What happens to a carbon atom transitioning between photosynthesis and respiration?

Answer 1

It is taken from CO2 converted to glucose then either converted back to CO2 or it is used for other processes and may expelled another way.

Answer 2

Metabolism isn't straight forward most pathways intersect and share similar metabolites

Answer 3

If we are just talking about photosynthesis and Respiration though,

The carbon atoms would be taken from CO2 in photosynthesis to form glucose

then the glucose would enter glycolysis where it would be broken down to two molecules of pyruvate depending on the situation then it might enter the citric acid cycle where it is can be expelled as a CO2 biproduct, although cataplerosis often occurs as many many pathways share metabolites.

This isn't an easy question to answer

Answer 4

basically what happens is

The plant uses energy from the sun to reduce the CO2 to glucose, then the cell oxidizes the glucose to extract energy from it back to CO2 Here is a summery of the process and a copy of the TCA and glycolysis cycle

Answer 5

you can look up glycolysis I'm too lazy to look for it but the screenshot20120509at6.54.12pm.png summerizes glucose metabolism in animals it is similar in plants just ignore the production of ethanol and I assume the pentose phosphate pathways is similar in plants

Answer 6

I would take these diagrams more as guides Hope this is helpful.