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Syllabus
“Plant Biochemistry and Pharmacology of Plant Metabolites” BCH/BPSC183
FALL 2020
4 units, Lecture, 3 hours; Discussion, 1 hour.
Lectures: MW 5:00 - 6:20 pm remote/by zoom
Discussion 021: F 5:00 - 5:50 pm, remote/by zoom
Discussion 022: F 4:00 - 4:50 pm, remote/by zoom
Discussion 023: R 2:00 - 2:50 pm, remote/by zoom
Discussion 024: R 4:00 - 4:50 pm, remote/by zoom
Eulgem Office hours: Tuesdays 2 – 4 pm, remote/by zoom
Instructor: Dr. Thomas Eulgem (thomas.eulgem@ucr.edu)
TA: Ryan Traband
Prerequisites: BCH 110A & BCH 110B; or BCH 100; or consent of instructor.
This redesigned 4-unit lecture course targets majors of all life-science disciplines as well as graduate students interested in plant biochemistry and the significance of plant metabolites in medicine and pharmacology. This class is equally suited for students interested in plant biology-related careers as well as health/medical professions. Besides plant-specific biochemical processes, main focus areas are biotechnology, medicinal plants, vitamins, antioxidants, plant-derived drugs as well as the biochemistry and pharmacological mode-of-action of secondary plant metabolites. Basic concepts of pharmacology will be introduced in the course. No prior knowledge of plant physiology or morphology is needed, as an introduction on these and other plant-related topics will also be provided.
The lectures will be presented in two weekly sessions of 80 min each, while the discussions will be separate 50 min.-sessions. All main topics covered in this class will be presented in the lectures. Lecture slides will be regularly uploaded to ilearn. The discussion sessions will allow students to deepen their understanding of the lecture topics. In some discussion sessions basic biological concepts of fundamental relevance for the class may be reviewed (e.g. bioenergetics, mechanisms of evolution, genetic engineering). Each week a study guide with test questions will be handed out to the students. These test questions will also be discussed in the discussion sessions.
Week 1: Introduction into Plant-cells, -tissues, -morphology, -evolution and –systematics
Week 2: Overview on Bioenergetics & Plant Metabolism; Carbohydrates, Plant Cell Walls
Week 3: Photosynthesis: Light Reactions; Photochemistry & Electron Transfer
Week 4: Photosynthesis: Dark Reactions; C4 and CAM metabolism, Photorespiration
Week 5: Introduction into Pharmacology and Medicinal Plants
Week 6: Secondary Plant Products, Alkaloids (Metabolism and Pharmacology)
Week 7: Terpenoids (Metabolism and Pharmacology)
Weeks 8: Phenolics (Metabolism and Pharmacology), Antioxidants, Vitamins,
Weeks 9: Plant Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering
Week 10 The Plant Immune System, Chemical Plant Genomics
Recommended Book:
- Hans-Walter Heldt (2011) “Plant Biochemistry”, 4th Edition, Academic Press/Elsevier.
Additional useful books:
- Buchanan, Gruissem, Jones (2015) “Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of Plants, 2nd edition”, American Society of Plant Physiologists, Rockville, Md.
- Katzung “Basic and Clinical Pharmacology”, Lange, McGraw Hill.
- Raven, Evert, Eichhorn, “Biology of Plants”, Freeman.
- Jones, Ougham, Thomas, Waaland (2013) “The Molecular Life of Plants”
- Dan Choffnes (2016) “Nature's Pharmacopeia”
Grading:
There will be two midterms (2 x 25%) and one final (50%) for a total of 100 points. In each of these exams materials covered in the lectures and discussion will be covered. Make-ups of Midterm and Final allowed only by doctor’s excuse and within 2-3 days of examination.
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