This powerpoint presentation includes secondary metabolites produced by plants. The figures included were all derived from Raven's Biology of Plants.

1. ORGANIC SUBSTANCES

2. PROTEINS

3. Structures
Primary structure- linear
structure
-determined by amino acid
sequence

4. Structures
• Secondary structure
– Fibrous proteins
• Structural support
– Alpha helix
– Beta pleated

6. Structures
• Tertiary structure
– Globular
– Examples: membrane
proteins, transport
proteins and enzymes
– Molecular chaperones

7. Structures
• Quaternary structure-
more than one
polypeptide chain

8. Enzymes
• Act as catalysts
• Lock and key model

9. Nucleic acids

10. Nucleotides

14. Secondary metabolites

15. Primary metabolites
• Molecules that are found in all plant cells and
are essential to life
• Amino acids, sugars, proteins and nucleic acids

16. Secondary metabolites
• Restricted in their distribution
• serve as chemical signals that enable the plant
to respond to environmental cues
• Others function in the plant’s defense
• Protection
• Aid in pollen and seed dispersal

17. Secondary metabolites
• Phytoalexins-antimicrobial
• Alkaloids
• Terpenoids
• Phenolics

18. Alkaloids
• Medically important
Papaver somniferum
Erythroxylum coca Nicotiana tabacum
Coffea, Theobroma and Camillia

19. Terpenoids
• Occur in all
plants and are
the largest class
of secondary
metabolites

20. Essential oils
• Mentha
– menthol and
menthone are
both
synthesized and
stored in
trichomes

21. Essential oils
• Taxol
– Known to
have anti-
cancer
properties

22. Essential oils
• Rubber
– Largest known
– Hevea brasiliensis

23. Terpenoids
• Carotenoids
• Uniquinone and plastoquinone
• sterols

24. Phenolics
• hydroxyl group (—OH) attached to an
aromatic ring
• almost universally present in plants and are
known to accumulate in all plant parts
(roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits)

25. Flavonoids
• Anthocyanin-red
through purple to
blue (wine)
• Flavones and
flavonols-yellowish,
sometimes
colorless
• Co-pigmentation
• Symbiotic
relationship in
legumes

26. Tannins
• Against herbivory
(i.e. bitter taste)
• Anti-bacterial
(denature protein
in leather)

27. Other phenolics
• Lignin-
structural
support
• Salicylic acid-
analgesic
– Systemic
acquired
resistance
(SAR)