Bio 36.3
plant physiology
course outline

Tentative Course Outline (Subject to Change):

WEEK #1

1. Introduction into course:
   Definition of Plants and Plant Physiology, review of the plant body, organs, tissues, and cell structure
2. Water and plants:
   Water as the element of life, water transport within the plant (in the cell wall and within the cell), water potential, principle of osmosis, turgor, ion fluxes, water balance of the plant, absorption, evaporation

WEEK #2

1. Mineral nutrients:
   Acquisition, transport, utilization, complete transport passive and active membrane transport, endo/exocytosis, pumps
2. Respiration 1: Glycolysis, citric acid cycle, enzymes, regulation

WEEK #3

1. Respiration 2: Respiratory electron transport, complexes, regulation, movement of metabolites
2. Chloroplasts: Development;
   Photosynthesis: Photosynthetic complexes, light reactions, pigments, and light absorption

WEEK #4

1. Photosynthetic electron transport, NADP-Synthesis, ATPase, photophosphorylation, CO₂-fixation, Calvin Cycle, Rubisco
2. Photorespiration, function of glyoxysomes, chlororespiration, interactions between chloroplast and mitochondria

WEEK #5

1. Review
2. Exam I

WEEK #6

1. C₄-Metabolism:
   Kranz-anatomy, different forms, PEP-Carboxylase facultative C₃/C₄
2. CAM-Metabolism:
   Ecophysiology, distribution, advantages

WEEK #7

1. Starch: biosynthesis, degradation, regulation, sugar export
2. Phloem transport: phloem loading and unloading, sugar transport, source and sink

WEEK #8

1. Nitrogen Metabolism: N-fixation, NO₃-reduction, Nitrate/Nitrite reductase, regulation;
   Sulfur Metabolism: S-fixation, SO₄-uptake, reduction, enzymes, regulation
2. Lipid Metabolism: Structure and function of lipids, fatty acid biosynthesis, catabolism of storage lipids, genetic engineering of lipids

WEEK #9

1. Signal perception and transduction: overview of signal transduction, network interactions within cells, tissues, throughout the plant and between plants
2. Specific examples of plant receptors: G-proteins, cyclic nucleotides, calmodulin, protein kinases and phosphatases

WEEK #10

1. Review
2. Exam II

WEEK #11

1. Plant hormones: Overview over plant hormones, Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, Ethylene & Abscisic Acid
2. Flowering & Photomorphogenesis: Early experiments, long day/ short day, control, regulation, cell division regulation, Scenescence, and programmed cell death

WEEK #12

1. Secondary Metabolism: Terpenoids, classes, biosynthesis of IPP-biosynthesis of Mono-, Di-, Tri-terpenes, Isoprenoids, biosynthesis of carotenoids
2. Biosynthesis of other plant pigments

WEEK #13

1. Biosynthesis of other substances: Alkaloids, Cutin, Suberin, Waxe
2. Biotic stresses: Plant pathogens and resistance genes

WEEK #14

1. Abiotic stress: Acclimation to light stress, oxidative defense mechanisms
2. Review

WEEK #15

1. Final