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12942 - Molecular Physiology of Plants

Academic Year 2018/2019

                
                        Docente:
                        Francesca Sparla
                    
                        Credits:
                        6
                    
                        SSD:
                        BIO/04
                    
                        Language:
                        Italian
                    
                        Teaching Mode:
                        Traditional lectures
                        
                            Campus:
                            Bologna
                        
                            Corso:
                            First cycle degree programme (L) in
                            Biotechnology (cod. 8005)

                            Teaching resources on Virtuale

Learning outcomes

At the end of the lectures, the student acquires current and detailed knowledge on the basic molecular mechanisms allowing the functioning of plants (photosynthesis, metabolism, mineral nutrition, photomorphogenesis and hormonal regulation).

Course contents

Introduction. Why study Molecular Plant Physiology and its biotechnological applications? Some examples: 1) plants and atmosphere; 2) Plants and chemical energy production; 3) Plants and the production of bioactive molecules.
The development of plant biotechnologies. Sequencing and comparative study of genomes. Arabidopsis thaliana and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as model species in the study of plant genomics. Non-nuclear genomes: the plastid genome and the mitochondrial genome. Knowledge Transfer: from model to non-model species. Bioinformatics tools.

Transformation of plant genomes: methodologies and applications. Transformation of the nuclear genome and the plastid genome (transplantomics): advantages and disadvantages of the two approaches. Methods of transformation: biolistic method (particle gun) and Agrobacterium. Characteristics of constructs for transgenesis. Constitutive, inducible and tissue-specific promoters. Selection markers and reporter genes. Constructs for gene silencing (antisense and RNA interference). Examples of transgenic plants: 1) plants resistant to herbicides (soybean Rounup Ready); 2) resistant to insects (Bt-corn); 3) production of heterologous proteins (production of antibodies in plants); 4) production of antibiotics.
Primary carbon metabolism. Photosynthesis: from light to the production of new biomass. The light phase of photosynthesis and the metabolic phase of photosynthesis. How to improve the conversion of light energy into biomass. First, second and third generation biofuels. The genetic manipulation of the starch structure: from resistant starch to bioplastic.
Growth and development of plant: the roles of light and hormones. Plant photoreceptors and plant hormones. Molecular aspects and physiological roles of plant photoreceptors. Production, transport and biological roles of plant hormones.

Readings/Bibliography

Updated original publications and reviews will be provided during the course.

Rascio N, Carfagna S, Esposito S, La Rocca N, Lo Gullo MA, Trost P, Vona V (2017) Elementi di Fisiologia vegetale. EdiSES

Teaching methods

The course will consist of lectures accompanied by the projection of pictures and diagrams. Questions and requests of further explanation from the students are always welcome, both during and after the lesson.

Assessment methods

Oral exam on the topics discussed in the class. The assessment will be organized into three questions, two chosen by the teacher and one chosen by the student.

Teaching tools

The course will take place in classrooms with PC projection. All lectures will be given with power point presentations. The files of the lectures will be available to students.

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Sparla