Module 3 Flashcards
is anything that is produced by life, and includes
biotic materials (e.g. wood, silk)bio-based
materials (e.g.bioplastics, cornstarch), bodily fluids
(e.g. milk, plant exudates) and other natural
materials that were once found in living
organisms (e.g. soil, coal)
NATURAL PRODUCTS
Any organic compound that is synthesized by a
living organism.
Have high structural diversity and unique pharmacological or biological activities due to the natural selection and evolutionary processes that have shaped their utility over hundreds of thousands of years
NATURAL PRODUCTS
NATURAL PRODUCTS ARE OFTEN
DIVIDED INTO TWO MAJOR CLASSES:
Primary metabolites
Secondary metabolites
Organic molecules that have an intrinsic function that is essential to the survival of the organism that produces them (i.e. the organism would die without these metabolites).
Required to make the major macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids) responsible for sustaining life
PRIMARY METABOLITES
Examples of Primary Metabolites:
❑ nucleotide bases
❑ amino acids
❑ sugars,
❑ fatty acids
are components of basic metabolic pathways that are required for life.
They are associated with essential cellular functions such as nutrient assimilation, energy production, and growth/development.
PRIMARY METABOLITES
They have a wide species distribution that spans many phyla and frequently more than one kingdom.
_____ include the building blocks
required to make the four major macromolecules within the body: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and
nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
Primary metabolites
These are large polymers of the body that are built up from repeating smaller monomer units.
The monomer units for building the nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, are the nucleotide bases, whereas the monomers for proteins are amino acids, for carbohydrates are sugar residues, and for lipids are fatty acids or acetyl groups.
PRIMARY METABOLITES
Are organic molecules that typically have an extrinsic function that mainly affects other organisms outside of the producer.
_____ are not essential to survival but do increase the competitiveness of the organism within its environment.
SECONDARY METABOLITES
In contrast to primary metabolites are dispensable and not absolutely required for survival.
They have a narrow species distribution.
For example, the deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna, produces toxic hallucinogenic compounds, like scopolamine, but other plant species do not have this capacity.
SECONDARY METABOLITES
In contrast to primary metabolites are dispensable and not absolutely required for survival.
They have a narrow species distribution.
For example, the deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna, produces toxic hallucinogenic compounds, like scopolamine, but other plant species do not have this capacity.
SECONDARY METABOLITES
SECONDARY METABOLITES
To date hundreds of thousands of secondary metabolites have been discovered!
Pheromones
Alkaloids
Nicotine
act as social signaling molecules with other individuals of the same species.
Pheromones
are secondary metabolites that contain nitrogen as a component of their organic structure and can be divided into many subclasses of compounds.
Alkaloids
the addictive substance in tobacco.
Nicotine
