University of Guelph Dr. Ian J. Tetlow: Plant Biology: Starch Biosynthesis MCB
Changing Lives, Improving Life
 

BOT*4380/6438 Metabolism in the Whole Life of Plants

This course follows the developmental changes that take place in plants, and explores the molecular, biochemical and physiological mechanisms that are responsible for development. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of modern experimental methods and critical evaluation of data.

Instructors

B. Micallef
Department of Plant Agriculture
Rm. 424 Crop Science Building
Phone: ext. 54384
Email: bmicalle@uoguelph.ca

I. Tetlow
Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology
Rm. 4471 Science Complex
Phone: ext. 52735
Email: itetlow@uoguelph.ca

Office hours are flexible for both instructors, and we will be available for discussion after class or by appointment.

Objectives

To understand the physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms whereby plants sustain themselves in the context of the whole life of the plant. To appreciate our current state of knowledge in plant metabolism including the field of metabolomics and how it has evolved. To communicate effectively in writing.

Prerequisites

BIOL*1040, BIOC*2580

Lecture Hours

Class Location and Time:
Mackinnon 121, 10:30-11:20 am, Mon./Wed./Fri.
Starting January 7, 2008

Required Texts

  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants (2000) Eds. B.B. Buchanan, W. Gruissem, R.L. Jones.
    American Society of Plant Physiologists (also on reserve)
  • There will also be lecture handouts and selected references from the scientific literature.

Reference Texts

Books on Reserve:

  • Plant Metabolism. 2nd Edition. Eds. Dennis, Turpin, Lefebvre, Layzell. Longmans.
  • Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2nd edition). Lea and Leegood.
  • Introduction to Plant Biochemistry. 2nd edition. Goodwin and Mercer.
  • Plant Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dennis and Turpin

Useful Resources

  • Annual Reviews of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology
  • Annual Plant Reviews
  • Annual Reviews of Biochemistry
  • Trends in Plant Science
  • Current Opinion in Plant Science
  • Course Presentation

Interactive lectures, with opportunity for questions and discussion. Some discussion of scientific papers. For each mini-essay topic (see below), one or two students will be selected to provide a 15 minute presentation.

Evaluation of Student Progress

BOT 4380:

  • Mid-term examination (within class on Monday, Feb. 11th) (20%).
  • Final Examination, Friday 11th April, location TBA (all material, two hours) (40%).
  • Two 2-page (Mini) essays (1st due January 25th; 2nd due February 29th ) (10% each; total 20%) (less 1% per day late).
  • One 4-page essay (due March 28th) (20%) (less 1% per day late).

BOT 6438:

  • Mid-term examination (within class on Monday, Feb. 11th; expect variation in questions relative to BOT 4380) (20%).
  • Final Examination, Friday 11th April, location TBA (all material, two hours; expect variation in questions relative to BOT 4380) (40%)
  • Mini-essays (5% each; 10% total) and essay (15%) as for BOT 4380;
  • Paper Review and Research Proposal (15%) (both due by April 4th) (less 1% per day late).

Lecture Topics

(comprehensive treatments are given for of all the topics listed below; the list below is general and does not provide all specific topics covered)

1. Ian Tetlow. Lectures 1-5 (January 7-16th)

  • Germination
  • Mobilisation of seed reserves including;
    • Protein degradation
    • Starch degradation
    • Fatty acid degradation
    • Early seedling establishment

2. Barry Micallef. Lectures 6-16 (January 18th -February 11th; note: *Midterm is on February 11th)
Introduction to photoautotrophy; physiological aspects of photosynthesis including interactions with abiotic factors (e.g. temperature, light, partial pressures of CO2 and O2); energy-use efficiency of photosynthesis.

Components and reactions of solar energy capture and transduction (i.e. light reactions of photosynthesis), including synthesis of chlorophyll and carotenoids, and the role of the xanthophyll cycle and other mechanisms for coping with excess excitation energy.

Photosynthetic carbon reduction and metabolism including: Calvin cycle and its regulation; photorespiration including its physiological significance; variations in photosynthetic C reduction (e.g. C4 metabolism, CAM metabolism); sucrose and starch synthesis in photosynthetic tissues, including starch degradation in chloroplasts; and carbohydrate utilization by sink tissues, including the role of triose-P and hexose-P pools and interactions with respiratory pathways. Synthesis of Vitamin C.

3. Ian Tetlow. Lectures 17-20 (February 13th- Feb 27th); note: week of February 18-22 is Reading Week)

  • Cell walls/cell wall biosynthesis

4. Barry Micallef. Lectures 21-27 (February 29th – March 14th)
Nitrogen and sulfur uptake and reduction, including biochemical aspects of N2 fixation; detailed discussion of

  • interactions between carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur metabolism.
  • Nitrogen and sulfur utilization including: amino acid synthesis; protein
  • synthesis in seed storage tissues; plant growth regulators derived from
  • nitrogen and sulphur metabolism; phenylpropanoid metabolism including
  • secondary metabolites; and alkaloid compounds and their synthesis.

5. Ian Tetlow. Lectures 28-35 (March 17th – April 4; note: Friday, March 21st is a holiday)

  • Fatty acid biosynthesis
  • Relevant secondary metabolism, mevalonate and non-mevalonate pathways
  • for terpenoid synthesis
  • Carotenoid synthesis.
  • Vitamin E synthesis and the role of antioxidants.
  • Relationship between carotenoid/vitamin E biosynthetic pathways and primary and secondary metabolic pathways
  • Starch biosynthesis in sink tissues