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Course
Code: BC613T
Core Course XIII: Plant Metabolism
The
objective of this course is to expose the students to various metabolic
processes involved with plant life
(Credits:
Theory-4, Practical-2)
THEORY
Lectures:
60
Unit 1: Concept of metabolism (6 lectures)
Introduction,
anabolic and catabolic pathways, regulation of metabolism, role of regulatory
enzymes (allosteric ,covalent modulation and Isozymes).
Unit 2: Carbon assimilation (14 lectures)
Historical
background, photosynthetic pigments, role of photosynthetic pigments
(chlorophylls and accessory pigments), antenna molecules and reaction centres,
photochemical reactions,
photosynthetic electron transport, PSI, PSII, Q
cycle, CO2 reduction, photorespiration, C4pathways; Crassulacean acid metabolism; Factors
affecting CO2 reduction.
Unit 3: Carbohydrate metabolism
Synthesis and catabolism of sucrose and starch. (2 lectures)
Unit 4: Carbon Oxidation (10 lectures)
Glycolysis, fate of pyruvate, regulation of
glycolysis, oxidative pentose phosphate pathway, oxidative decarboxylation of
pyruvate, regulation of PDH, NADH shuttle; TCA cycle,amphibolic role,
anaplerotic reactions, regulation of the cycle, mitochondrial electron
transport, oxidative phosphorylation, cyanide-resistant respiration, factors
affecting respiration.
Unit 5: ATP-Synthesis (8 lectures)
Mechanism of ATP synthesis, substrate level
phosphorylation, chemiosmotic mechanism (oxidative and photophosphorylation),
ATP synthase, Boyers conformational model, Racker’s experiment, Jagendorf’s
experiment; role of uncouplers.
Unit 6: Lipid metabolism (8 lectures)
Synthesis and breakdown of triglycerides,
β-oxidation, glyoxylate cycle, gluconeogenesis and its role in mobilisation of
lipids during seed germination, α oxidation.
Unit 7: Nitrogen metabolism
(8
lectures)
Nitrate assimilation, biological nitrogen fixation
(examples of legumes and non-legumes); Physiology and biochemistry of nitrogen
fixation; Ammonia assimilation and transamination.
Unit 8:
Mechanisms of signal transduction (4 lectures)
Receptor-ligand interactions; Second messenger concept, Calcium
calmodulin, MAP kinase cascade.
Course
Code: BC613P
Core
Course XIII - Practical: Plant Metabolism
1. Chemical separation
of photosynthetic pigments.
2. Experimental
demonstration of Hill’s reaction.
3. To study
the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis.
4. Effect of
carbon dioxide on the rate of photosynthesis.
5. To
compare the rate of respiration in different parts of a plant.
6. To
demonstrate activity of Nitrate reductase in germinating leaves of different
plant sources.
7.
To study
the activity of lipases in germinating oilseeds and demonstrate mobilization of
lipids during germination.
8. Demonstration
of fluorescence by isolated chlorophyll pigments.
9. Demonstration
of absorption spectrum of photosynthetic pigments.
Suggested
Readings
1.
Hopkins,
W.G. and Huner, A. (2008). Introduction to Plant Physiology. John Wiley and
Sons. U.S.A. 4th edition.
2.
Taiz, L.,
Zeiger, E., MØller, I.M. and Murphy, A (2015). Plant Physiology and Development.
Sinauer Associates Inc. USA. 6th edition.
3.
Harborne,
J.B. (1973). Phytochemical Methods. John Wiley & Sons. New York.
