302 : PLANT BIOCHEMISTRY
UNIT I
1. Specialized plant organelles : Cell plate, Cell wall- Chemical and physical composition,
biosynthesis, primary and secondary cell walls, Plasmadesmata, Plasids- Types and
functions, Importance of vacuoles and microbodies, Meristematic cells an root quiescent
zone
2. Absorption, adsorption and transport of water and ions in plants
3. Translocation of inorganic and organic substances
4. Structure and biogenesis of organelles involved in photosynthesis in plants
UNIT II
1. Chloroplast membrane and molecular organization of thylakoids, proton gradient and
electron transfer in chloroplasts of plants and in purple bacteria-difference from
mitochondria
2. Light receptors- Chlorophyll, light harvesting complexes, bacteriorhodopsin as ion pump
3. Photosystem I and II- Location, mechanism of energy transfer between pghotosystems,
ferrodoxin, plastocyanin, plastoquinones and carotenoids
4. Hill reaction and photophosphorylation
UNIT III
1. The Calvin Cycle- Evidence, mechanism and stoichiometry, role of light in activation of dark
phase enzymes
2. Photorespiration : Mechanism and regulation
3. The C4 mode of photosynthesis : Mechanism, stoichiometry and purpose, difference from
C3 in relation to plant productivity
4. Crassulacean Acid Metabolism : Mechanism and regulation
UNIT IV
1. Biological Nitrogen Fixation : Formation of ammonia, conversion of nitrate to ammonia,
assimilation and secondary assimilation of ammonia, inhibitors
2. Molecular properties of nitrogenase system, nif genes and their regulation, applications of
biological nitrogen fixation
3. Molecular effects and mechanism of action of Auxin and Gibberellic Acid
4. Molecular effects and mechanism of action of Auxin and Gibberellic Acid
UNIT V
1. Secondary metabolites : Plant alkaloids- Distribution, localization and biosynthesis of true
proto and pseudoalkaloids, biological functions
2. Plant phenolics : nature, distribution, biosynthesis and regulation of phenolics, phenolic
acids, hydroxycinnamic acid, phenylpropenes, quinines, xanthones, stilbenes, flavanoids,
bioflavanoids, lignins and tannins, biological functions
3. Biochemistry of seed development and fruit ripening
4. Defense system in plants
Practical Exercises
1. Estimation of plant proteins
2. Estimation of plant lipids and carbohydrates
3. Isolation of plant pigments, their analysis and determination of absorption Maxima
4. Chloroplast isolation
5. Hill Reaction
6. Estimation of nitrogenase
7. Estimation of nitrate reductase- in vivo method
8. Fruit ripening
9. Estimation of total phenolic compounds
10. Estimation of anthrocyanin pigments
Reference Books
1. Handbook of Photosynthesis (1997) by Mohammad Pe Sarakle
2. Plant Physiology by Salisburry and Ross
3. Introduction to Plant Biochemistry (1983) by Goodwin and Mercer
4. Seed : Physiology of Development and Germination (1994) by Bewley and Balck
5. Biochemistry of Energy Utilization in Plants (1987) by Blakie
6. Plant Biochemistry by Dey and Harbome
Note: All text books are of latest editions
