Welcome to BIOLOGY 458

PLANT BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMICAL ECOLOGY

Fall term 2011/2012 MR 10:00 - 11:20 Cun 146

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Peter Constabel Cun 147a

email: cpc@uvic.ca Ph: 472-5140

    Term paper Info here:
     (updated topics list here)

LECTURE TOPICS:	Text Readings		Readings	Lecture	Dates (approx)
	(Heldt 3rd ed.)*		(Heldt 4th edition)	Period #
Introductory lecture
Importance of plant biochemistry & biochemical ecology				1	Sept 8
Part A. Primary Metabolism (Carbon and Nitrogen)
Enzyme regulation; carbohydrates: starch, sucrose, fructans, & other sugars		pp 243-269 Reading #1	pp 241-268	2-3	Sept 12, 15
Structure and function of the cell wall		pp 4-7, 269-271	pp 4-7, 269-270	4-5	Sept 19, 22
CW SLIDES Fatty acid biosynthesis; plant oils & genetic engineering Reading #2		pp 363-382,389-391	pp 359-378, 385-387	6-7	Sept 26, 29
Nitrogen assimilation, nitrogen fixation amino acid synthesis		pp 275-290 pp 309-320	pp 273-288, 307-318	8-9	Oct 3, 6
Thanksgiving Monday		no lecture			Oct 10
Shikimate pathway, aromatic amino acids, herbicides		pp 299-302	pp. 297-300	10	Oct 13
Phenylpropanoid pathway & lignin biosynthesis		pp 435-444	pp. 431-440	11	Oct 17
MIDTERM EXAM (sample  questions)				12	Oct 20
Reading #3 for Oct 27th
Part B. Secondary Metabolism & Chemical Ecology     lignin (part 2)
Phenolics: biosynthesis and ecological functions SLIDES		pp. 403-406, 435-444	pp. 399-402	13	Oct 24
Flavonoids and their diverse functions Reading # 4		pp 446- 453	pp. 442-449	14-15	Oct 27, 31
Isoprenoids I - Plant volatiles and signals		pp 413-428	pp. 409-424	16	Nov 3
Isoprenoids II - carotenoids, toxins, rubber SLIDES				17	Nov 7
Term paper bibliographies due					Nov 7
Fall Reading Break (Nov 9-11)		no lecture			Nov 10
Alkaloids & medicinal plants I		pp 406-408	402-404	18	Nov 14
Alkaloids & medicinal plants II Slides				19	Nov 17
Glucosinolates and cyanogenic glycosides		pp 408-410	404-406	20	Nov 20
Plant-plant interactions READING #5				21	Nov 24
FINAL TERM PAPERS DUE					Nov 25
Phytochemicals and human health		Hydroxamic acids lecture		22	Nov 28
Special Topics & Review				23	Dec 1
Final Exam Study Questions

* Heldt 4th edition page numbers will be slightly different.

TEXTBOOK : none required. Optional textbook (Heldt, Plant Biochemistry, 3rd/4th edition) will be on reserve at the library and should be consulted to reinforce lectures. Some material is covered by Taiz and Zeiger's Plant Physiology, also on reserve. Readings from the primary literature or review articles will be assigned periodically (approx 6-8). You will be asked to do very brief assignments based on these readings, to be discussed in class.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

To provide an introduction to plant chemicals, their role in the plant and ecosystem, and the biochemical basis of plant adaptation. Emphasis will be on plant-specific biochemical pathways and processes, and their regulation and molecular biology. Topics include: storage carbohydrates, cell wall biosynthesis, lipid metabolism, nitrogen fixation and assimilation; biochemistry and ecology of secondary plant metabolites such as isoprenoids, phenolics and alkaloids, and their roles in pl¹ant-animal and plant-environment interactions.

WEB-ACCESSIBLE / ADDITIONAL MATERIAL:

The outlines for each lecture will available be prior to the lecture at my lab home page (http://web.uvic.ca/~cpc/). Please be aware that these are outlines, not detailed notes, which are provided to help you organize the lecture material. It is therefore imperative that you attend lectures. Handouts will be provided for important figures during the lecture periods.

EVALUATION:	Mid-term examination (Oct 20, 2011)	20%
	Annotated Bibliography (for term paper) Term Paper Final Draft Assignments (questions on assigned readings)	5% 25% 10%
	Final exam (cumulative): December 2011 Total	40% 100%

Grading system: Percentages converted to letter grades

A+ 90-100 A 85-89.9 A- 80-84.9

B+ 75-79.9 B 70-74.9 B- 65-69.9

C+ 60-64.9 C 55-59.9 D 50-54.9 F 0-49.9

There will be no supplemental exam. Make-up final exams will only be considered if a Request for Academic Concession is provided. There will be no make-up midterm exams; if you miss a midterm, you must provide a documented medical reason.