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CPSC/NRES/ PLBIO 424 (1 unit)
Fall 2003
Graduate level course in plant intermediary metabolism as related to plant cell structure and function. Topics to be covered will include: bioenergetics, cell walls, membranes, respiration, photosynthesis, photorespiration, carbon metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, sulfur metabolism, lipid metabolism, plant hormones and signalling circuits, and secondary products.
Lectures
Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences & Dept. of Plant Biology
230 E. Madigan Lab (office)
phone: 244-1115
email: dbriskin@uiuc.edu
Dept. Crop Sciences & Dept. Plant Biology
196 E. Madigan Lab (office)
phone: 265-5745
email: bohnerth@life.uiuc.edu
Textbooks:
- Lea/Leegood, Plant Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 2nd ed., J. Wiley & Sons, 1997 (1st choice)
- Heldt, Plant Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 1999 (2nd)
We will also use parts from: Buchanan/Gruissem/Jones, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of Plants, ASPB, 2000, and from other textbooks the sources of which will be provided.
Current Literature: For topics discussed during the semester, relevant readings from the current literature will be available “on reserve” in the Agriculture Library, and/or in pdf format on a homepage for the class.
4 1 Hour Examinations @ 50 pts./exam.
1 Comprehensive Final Examination @ 100 pts.
= 200 pts.
= 100 pts.
Total = 300 pts
1 Hour Exam Dates:
Final Examination Date:
Friday, September 19th
Wednesday, October 15th
Friday, November 7th
Friday, December 5th
Monday, December 15th, 8 to 11 a.m.
Lecture Topics:
Introduction (concepts, techniques, biochemical approaches to function, metabolic pathways, control in metabolism)
Overview of plant cell biology
plant cell structure; organelles; cell fractionation and molecular
aspects
Photosynthesis
light reactions and photosystem structure; C3, C4, and CAM modes for
carbon fixation; photorespiration
Respiration
glycolysis, TCA cycle, oxidative pentose phosphate pathway, oxidative
phosphorylation
Carbohydrate metabolism
sucrose biosynthesis, export and utilization; starch biosynthesis and
degradation; fructans and other reserve carbohydrates
Structural carbohydrate and plant cell walls
composition and structure of cell walls; cell wall elongation;
biosynthesis of cell wall components; extensins; lignin biosynthesis and
deposition
Plant lipid metabolism and membranes
plant lipid chemistry, fatty acid biosynthesis, phospholipid and
triglycerol bio-synthesis, lipid catabolism, cutins, suberins, waxes
Nitrogen metabolism
nitrogen transformations in the soil; nitrate uptake, reduction and
assimilation; nitrogen fixation; metabolism of ureides; amino acid
biosynthesis and degradation; biosynthesis of purines and pyrimidines
Sulfur metabolism
inorganic sulfur uptake, reduction and assimilation
Plant secondary products
terpenes, phenolics, and alkaloids
Plant growth regulators [‘hormones’]
auxin, cytokinines, ABA, brassinosteroids, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid,
NO, carbohydrates, peptides, with emphasis on structures and pathways
that regulate inter- and intra-cellular signalling
Biochemical plant ecology
plant responses to the environment; plant responses to herbivory;
constitutive and induced responses to herbivory; biochemistry of
stress-induced pathways - metabolite, defence compounds
Medicinal products and psychoactive plant compounds
