PLBIO 4620 - Plant Biochemistry

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: PLBIO 2420 or PLBIO 3420 or equivalent and BIOMG 3300 or BIOMG 3310 or equivalent or permission of instructor.

C. Catala, K. Van Wijk.

Focuses on biochemistry of plant specific processes, with the aim to obtain an integrative overview of plant biochemistry. Examples include processes such as cell wall biochemistry, pigment biosynthesis and degradation, secondary metabolism, senescence, defense mechanisms, amino acid biosynthesis, and small molecule transport. Genomics-based experimental tools such as proteomics and metabolomics are discussed.

Outcome 1: Upon completion of the course, students will have: Become familiar with a range of plant biochemical pathways and associated regulatory mechanisms (e.g. allosteric regulation, post-translational modifications, feedback regulation).

Outcome 2: Developed an understanding of how those processes are different from, or share some features with, analogous systems in non-plant taxonomic groups, such as bacteria, yeast and mammals.

Outcome 3: Gained insights into (sub)cellular compartmentalization of plant biochemical processes.

Outcome 4: Learned how multiple plant biochemical pathways intersect and influence each other.

Outcome 5: Been exposed to current literature in the field of plant biochemistry, including new analytical techniques, bioinformatics approaches and analytical paradigms in ‘model’ and ‘non-model’ experimental systems.

Outcome 6: Participated in discussions about the importance of plant biochemistry in the areas of human health, agricultural biotechnology and new and emerging applications such as bioenergy and fine chemicals.

Outcome 7: Developed skills in writing grant proposals to address central questions in both basic and applied plant biochemistry.