Plant Biochemistry

elective courses

Biochemistry 1400-113BCH

The practical course for the students acquainted with the basis of organic chemistry and the rules of the laboratory work.

Classroom

This lab course is a practical training in techniques of isolation, separation, identification and quantitative analysis of primary and secondary plant metabolites (including extraction, chromatography and spectral techniques), as well as in methods used in studying cell metabolism in vitro and in vivo (isolation of cells, protoplasts, cell organelles, isolation of enzymes and measurement of their activity, application of isotope-marked precursors to tracking metabolic pathways). Each student performs 4 laboratory tasks.

I. Plant cell metabolism: Studying the incorporation of [14CO2] to sugars in isolated bean leaves, phenyl [14C]alanine to the cinnamic acid, apigenine and apiine in cells isolated from parsley leaves, [14C] acetate to lipids in marigold stems or leaf protoplasts.

II. Plant enzymes: Measurement of activity of phospholipase D obtained from Italian cabbage leaves, measurement of glycosidases activity in plant tissue extracts, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase from barley coleoptyles, solubilisation and reconstitution of glucosyltransferase UDPglucose:sterol from the microsomal fraction of potato bulbs or tomato leaves.

III. Methods of isolation and analysis of primary metabolites: Isolation and characteristics of amylose and amylopectin from potato bulbs, pectins from sugar beet or lemon fruits, carotenoids from carrot roots or tomato fruits, tocopherols, poliprenyl quinones or sterols from bean or oilseed rape leaves, chloroplast galactolipids from bean or spinach leaves. Identification of components of plant oligo- or polysaccharides or fatty acids in plant acylglycerols.

IV. Methods of isolation and analysis of secondary metabolites: Isolation and characteristics of caffeine from tea or coffee leaves, nicotine from tobacco leaves, steroid glycoalkaloids from potato leaves or ,,sprouts", anthocyanin dyes from cornflower or black mallow flowers or red cabbage leaves, apiine from parsley roots, glycosides of triterpenoid acids from marigold or sunflower. Studying the flavonoid structure by spectral analysis.

Ćwiczenia z biochemii. Praca zbiorowa pod redakcją L. Kłyszejko-Stefanowicz. PWN, Warszawa, wydanie dowolne.

Berg J., Tymoczko J., Stryer L., Biochemia, PWN Warszawa, 2005.

Kączkowski J., Biochemia roślin, PWN Warszawa, wydanie dowolne.

KNOWLEDGE

1. Student is acquainted with the basic laboratory techniques applied in biochemical research.

2. Knows and understands biochemical, cellular and molecular basis of functioning of plant organisms.

3. Understands the importance of research in biotechnology and is capable of describing the significance of analyses in biological investigation.

4. Understands rules of hygiene and safety of work.

SKILLS

1. Student applies essential techniques suitable for plant biochemistry.

2. Performs biochemical measurements in the laboratory and makes observations.

3. Collects experimental data and interprets them.

4. Is capable of critical assessment of a selected scientific subject in a form of a written report in Polish language, including a proper scientific documentation.

SOCIAL COMPETENCES

1. Displays responsibility for his own work and entrusted equipment; displays respect to his own work and the work of the others.

2. Displays responsibility for the safety of the own work, and the work of the others.

3. Displays caution and criticism in reception of information from mass media concerning natural sciences and biotechnology achievements.

Evaluation of the student's work during the practical course, evaluation of the results and their description in the form of the report.

The final written examination.

None