Plant Secondary Metabolism Quiz

Study Notes

Secondary metabolism refers to biochemical reactions that create organic compounds not directly involved in growth and development in plants.
Primary metabolism is essential for growth and development and includes processes such as photosynthesis and respiration.

Shikimate pathway is a key metabolic route in plants for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids.
It starts with erythrose 4-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate.
The pathway generates L-tryptophan, L-tyrosine, and L-phenylalanine.
Aromatic amino acids are precursors for secondary metabolites like alkaloids, phenolic compounds and plant hormones.

Acetate-malonate pathway is primarily responsible for fatty acid synthesis.
It utilizes acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA as substrates.
The pathway elongates fatty acid chains through a series of cycles, resulting in the formation of palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid.
It occurs in the cytoplasm of plant cells.
Fatty acids are important components of membranes and serve as energy reserves.

Mevalonate pathway is critical for the biosynthesis of isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), a precursor for terpenoids and steroids.
The pathway begins with Acetyl-CoA and proceeds through a series of steps leading to the production of IPP.
Terpenoids are a diverse group of compounds classified based on the number of isoprene (C5) units they contain.
Examples of terpenoids include:
- Hemiterpenoids (C5): isoprene
- Monoterpenoids (C10): menthol, limonene
- Sesquiterpenoids (C15): farnesene
- Diterpenoids (C20): gibberellins, taxol
- Triterpenoids (C30): squalene, lanosterol
- Tetraterpenoids (C40): carotenoids, chlorophyll

Cholesterol pathway is a branch of the mevalonate pathway responsible for synthesizing cholesterol and related compounds.
It begins with Acetyl-CoA and proceeds through a series of steps leading to the production of cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a precursor for steroid hormones, including testosterone, estradiol, and vitamin D.
It also plays a role in the formation of bile acids.
The cholesterol pathway primarily occurs in the liver of animals but can also occur in plants.

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