4 Credits – 60 theoretical hours
SUMMARY:
1. Plant Metabolism
2. Primary and special metabolism
3. Construction mechanisms of special metabolites
4. Special Metabolism. Plant Metabolism Overview: Primary and Special Metabolism
PROGRAM CONTENT:
1. Plant metabolism
Special (secondary) metabolites. Physiological role of special metabolites. Plant-microorganism interaction.
Antimicrobial toxins: pre- and post-infection. The cost of chemical defense.
Plant growth versus development (dominant growth plants and
dominant differentiation). Overview of primary metabolism and special metabolism.
2. Primary Metabolic Processes
Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Places of accumulation of special compounds. Primary metabolism:
Proteins. Enzymes. Coenzymes
Primary metabolism: pathways for the production of acetyl-CoA, ATP and reducing power.
Glycolysis. Kreks cycle.
Electron transport chain. Enzyme complexes and mobile electron transporters.
Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation
Pentose phosphate pathway. Gluconeogenesis.
Degradation of fatty acids. Glyoxylate Cycle.
Photosynthesis. Capture and conversion of light energy into chemical energy. Oxidative photophosphorylation
Calvin-Benson cycle. Routes C2 and C4.
Gene manipulation for the production of special metabolites
Primary and special metabolism relationship.
3. Construction mechanisms of special metabolites
Building blocks that form the basis of special metabolites: C2; C5; C6C3; C6C2N; Indole-C2N;
C4N, C5N;
Alkylation reactions: Nucleophilic substitution (Formation of S-adenosylmethionine/SAM; O and Nalkylation using SAM; C-alkylation using SAM; O-alkylation using dimethylallyldiphosphate/DMAPP)
Alkylation reactions: Electrophilic addition (Inter and intra molecular additions; Carbocation generation;
carbocation discharge). Wagner-Meerwein rearrangements.
Aldol and Claisen reactions.
Schiff Base Formation (Schiff base formation; Schiff base hydrolysis)
Mannich reaction
Transamination
Decarboxylation Reactions (Amino acids; β-ketoacids; α-ketoacids)
Oxidation and Reduction Reactions: Dehydrogenases (NAD+ and NADP+; FAD and FMN); Oxidases;
Oxygenases (mono- and dioxygenases); Amino oxidases (mono and diamino oxidases; Bayer oxidations)
Villiger
Phenolic oxidative coupling. Glycosylation reactions: O-glycosylation; Hydrolysis of O-glycosides;
C-Glycosylation
4. Special Metabolism.
Isoprenoid (terpenoid) metabolism: Conversion of mevalonic acid into isopentenylpyrophosphate.
Main classes of isoprenoids: Monoterpenes; Sesquiterpenes; Diterpenes, Tetraterpenes;
Triterpenes: sterols and phytosterols
Shikimate-arogenate pathway.
General metabolism of phenylpropanoids. Phenolic compounds. Flavonoids, Lignins, Lignans,
Tannins.
Nitrogen metabolism in plants.
Synthesis of aromatic amino acids: phenylalanine; tyrosine and tryptophan
Nitrogen-containing compounds: Non-protein amino acids, Amines
Cyanogenic Glycosides. Glucosinolates.
Alkaloids
Plant Metabolism Overview: Primary and Special Metabolism
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Barreiro, E.J.; Fraga, C.A.M. Medicinal Chemistry. The molecular bases of drug action. Artmed.
2002. 243p
Buchanan, B. B.; Gruissem, W.; Jones, R.L. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of Plants. A.S.P.P.
2000.1366 p.
Dey, P.M.; Harborne, J.B. Plant Biochemistry. Academic. Press. 1997. 554 p.
Nelson, D. and Cox, M. Principles of Sarvier Biochemistry. 2002
Stryer, L. Biochemistry. Guanabara Koogan. 4a. ed. 2003.
Voet, B., Voet, J. G. Pratt, C. Fundamentals of Biochemistry. ArtMed. 2000
