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Secondary metabolites
Katerina Dadakova, Department of Biochemistry
Figures adopted from Buchanan et al., Biochemistry & molecular biology of plants

Secondary metabolites
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Diversity of plant natural products

Secondary metabolites
3
Phenolic compounds
Major subclasses of phenolic compounds:
•flavonoids
•flavones
•flavonols
•flavanones
•anthocyanidins
•isoflavones
•chalcones
•stilbenes
•coumarins and furanocoumarins
•lignins and lignans
•naphta- and anthraquinones
•diarylheptanoids

Secondary metabolites
4
Phenolic compounds

Secondary metabolites
5
Phenolic compounds
Flavonoids

Secondary metabolites
6
Phenolic compounds

Secondary metabolites
7
Phenolic compounds

Secondary metabolites
Terpenoids
8

Secondary metabolites
Terpenoids
Terpenoid biosynthesis:
•Biosynthesis of the basic five-carbon unit
•
•Repetitive additions of C5 units
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•Formation of parent carbon skeletons
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•Modification of terpenoid skeletons
The prenyltransferase reaction
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Secondary metabolites
Terpenoids
10
Resin                             Oil stored in a glandular hair                    Plant latex

Secondary metabolites
Terpenoids
11

Secondary metabolites
Cyanogenic glycosides
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Secondary metabolites
Cyanogenic glycosides
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Cassava (Manihot esculentum)
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)
Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Almond (Prunus amygdalus)

Secondary metabolites
Cyanogenic glycosides
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Secondary metabolites
Glucosinolates
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Secondary metabolites
Glucosinolates
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Secondary metabolites
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Alkaloids

Secondary metabolites
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Alkaloids

Secondary metabolites
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Alkaloids

Secondary metabolites
20
Alkaloids
Bacteria and yeast have been engineered with a combination of plant and animal genes to produce
isoquinoline alkaloids. Single batch means a co-culture of yeast and bacterium.