The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning objectives

The course of biochemistry is intended to offer an integrated view of some fundamental aspects of the primary and secondary metabolism of plants and their integration and mutual influence. The course aims to define some of the main metabolic pathways and to provide the basis for metabolic analysis using biochemical, genetic and biophysical methods. Theoretical basics will be supplemented by the illustration of biotechnological applications of the engineering of the metabolic pathways involved. Particularly important will be the inhibition of photosynthesis by oxygen and its consequences for the productivity of algae and crops. Finally, the biogeochemical carbon cycle will be discussed.

Prerequisites and basic notions

knowledge of general biochemistry, plant biology, cell biology, physics and chemistry are required

Program

Part 1: Light as a source of energy and information in plants: control mechanisms of primary and secondary metabolism. Part 2: Electron transport and ATP synthesis in bacteria, green algae and higher plants. Cyclic and linear transport. Electronic transport control. Part 3: Carbon fixation: Calvin cycle, Hatch and Slack cycle, CAM metabolism. Perspectives of modification of metabolism in cultivated plants. Part 4: Biosynthesis and mobilization of starch in chloroplast and leukoplasts. Metabolic relationships between chloroplast and cytoplasm. Transport of sugars into the plant. Part 5: metabolism of hydrogen as an energy source. Hydrogenases in green algae, cyanobacteria and thermophilic bacteria. Bioenergetics of hydrogen production. Part 6: Nitrogen metabolism. Symbiotic and bacterial fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. Nitrogen organization. Biosynthesis of essential amino acids. Part 7: Sulfur metabolism. Biosynthesis of methionine and cysteine. Glutathione, phytochelatins and the detoxification of xenobiotic substances. Herbicides and pollutants. Part 8: Secondary metbolism. The plant as a biosynthetic machine. A): terpenoids. Biotechnology of carotenoids for the production of dyes, vitamins and antioxidants. Part 9: Secondary metabolism II. Alkaliids: biosynthesis and production of pharmaceutical products in plants. Partie 10: Secondary metabolism III. phenylpropanoids: organization and genetic modification of a metabolic pathway for the production of fibers, pigments and other food additives. Partie 11: Biosynthesis and degradation of lipids. Role in the adaptation of plants to temperature. Lipids as a substrate for signal translation and biosynthesis of jasmonic acid. Partie 12: Production and storage of seed reserve proteins. Mobilization of protein reserves. Bibliography: Buchanan, Gruissem & Jones: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants. Taiz & Zeiger: Plant Physiology.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The course will consist of 20 theoretical lessons of 2 hours and three practical lessons in the laboratory of 4 hours each. For each exercise the student will have to take notes and provide a report with the data obtained and the conclusions that he will be able to draw for the photosynthetic function of plants and algae.

Learning assessment procedures

written exam composed of questions deriving from (a) practicals, b) theory and (c) an open question requiring the description of one of the major metabolic pathways with specification of the chemical formulas of the intermediate metabolites and name of the enzymes involved. The report on the practicals will be evaluated

Evaluation criteria

ability to understand the basic concepts of bio-energetics and photobiology. Ability to know and think about the metabolic pathways of the organication of Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulphur

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final grade will be composed of the sum of the results of the multiple solution answers, the question on metabolic pathways and the report of the laboratory activities

Exam language

italiano