secondary metabolites

metabolites

intermediates or products of metabolism

• for:

  • fuel

  • structural components

  • signaling

  • stimulatory effects on enzymes

  • inhibitory effects on enzymes

primary metabolites

directly involved in normal growth, development, and/or reproduction

secondary metabolites

a molecule that is not directly involved in the normal growth, development, and/or reproduction of the plant

• nitrogen containing compounds

  • alkaloids

  • glucosinolates

  • glycosides

• phenolic compounds

  • flavonoids

  • phenylpropanoids

• terpenes

  • isoprenoids

what do secondary metabolites do

• weapons against pathogens and herbivores

• metal transporting agents

• hormones

• molecules to generate symbiosis between microbes and plants

• differentiation effectors

SM synthesis is where?

roots, stems, leaves, or flowers (in order of appearance)

• roots and stem are the only organs of any medicinal consequence

levels of reulation of SM

1. transportation

2. metabolism of extracellular nutrients

   1. transcription

   2. post transcription

   3. post translational modification

3. precursor formation/accumulation

T/F: SM like stress conditions

true

• UV

• temp

• water

• like high salt

what have pharm companies been looking into rather than natural plant-derived compounds?

synthetic compounds, but this has not been proved effective

limitations to using plants

1. identification

2. no high throughput screening

3. accessibility of starting materials (wildcrafting)

4. humans

T/F: the taxol supply crisis is still happening?

trueee