Biosynthesis of Natural Products
Code
7106
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Química
Credits
4.0
Teacher in charge
Ana Maria Félix Trindade Lobo
Weekly hours
3
Total hours
43
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
The objectives of the discipline include the presentation of the major biosynthetic study methods, as well as the most important metabolic pathways used by the cell in the production of metabolites, specially secondary metabolites. Such knowledge will provide the student with the capacity to rationalize the formation of natural products, the prediction of the structure of novel compounds and their expected metabolism.
Prerequisites
Students should have at least an introductory knowledge of organic chemistry, which should include the recognition of the major functional groups and the knowledge of the most common reaction mechanisms.
Subject matter
1. Medicinal plants and natural products – a brief introduction
Overview on the use of natural products. Drugs of natural origin. Present impact.
2. Primary and secondary metabolism
Primary and secondary metabolism. Enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of natural products. Enzymatic reactions of the secondary metabolism and their analogy with organic reactions. Classification of natural products according to their biosynthetic origin.
3. Natural products derived from acetate.
Formation of beta-ketonic chains. Fatty acids, oils, fats and polyketides. Acetylenes. Prostaglandins and analogues. Cyclization of polyketonic chains. Aromatic polyacetates. Tetracyclines. Methos of elucidation of biosynthetic pathawys.
4. Natural products derived from mevalonate and deoxyxylolose phosphate.
Formation of the isoprenic unit. Isoprenoids. Biosynthesis of regular and irregular monoterpenes. Iridoids. Sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, and sesterterpenes. The squalene molecule, and squalene epoxide. Triterpenes, steroids, and tetraterpenes. Carotenoids.
5. Natural Products derived from shikimic acid
Aromatic aminoacids. Cinnamic acids, phenylpropenes. Lignans and lignins. Coumarins. Flavonoids. metabolites. and benzoic acids. Phenolic compounds. Coumarins. Mixed biosynthesis: natural products derived from acetate and mevalonate units.
6. Alkaloids
Alkaloids derived from ornithine, lysine, phenyl-alanine, tyrosine, tryptophan and antranylic acid. Alkaloids derived from purine: caffeine. Mixed biosynthesis: alkaloids derived from tryptofan and mevalonate (ex. LSD); steroidal alkaloids.
7. The problems of doping in sports.
Bibliography
1. A. M. Lobo & A. M. Lourenço (Ed.), “Biossíntese de Produtos Naturais", IST Press, Lisboa, 2007.
2. A. M. Lourenço,"Problemas em Biossintese de Produtos Naturais", Edinova, Lisboa, 1998.
3. P. M. Dewick “Medicinal Natural Products – A Biosynthetic Approach”, Wiley, Chichester, 2009.
Teaching method
Classes involve normal teaching that uses blackboard and power-point presentations. In tests and examinations, students are allowed to use their own notebooks, suggested bibliography for the discipline, or any other document sources, but not their computer or mobile phone. The work of this subject will end with a final presentation to the entire course of the web-molecule developped by the student on an individual basis. The file of the web-molecule should be up-loaded in the server made available until the last class of the course.
Evaluation method
Please consult the document about this subject.