This course focuses on basics required for using natural resources for sustainable future life. Specifically, the students will study basics and applied science on photosynthetic organisms such as algae and higher plants.
The topics will include photosynthetic light-energy conversion mechanism, photosynthetic light-signal transduction mechanisms, evolutional mechanisms of photosynthesis and photosynthetic organisms on the earth, mechanisms of symbiosis establishing chloroplasts, and mechanisms of nutrient-sensing system in photosynthetic organisms. Students will experience how photosynthesis is important for sustainable energy provision for life on the earth.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) explain how photosynthesis is important for life and the earth
2) explain molecular basis mechanisms of photosynthesis
3) explain how photosynthesis is established
4) explain mechanisms of how photosynthetic organisms capture nutrients
5) discuss future progresses on biofuel production by photosynthetic organisms
Natural resources, Photosynthesis, Artificial photosynthesis, Nutrient sensing, Biofuel, Bioenergy, Algae, Plant
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
This course will be organized by five lecturers.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Photosynthesis; the most important energy conversion system on the earth (Hisabori) | Understand why photosynthesis is important on the earth |
Class 2 | Light energy harvesting system in photosynthesis (Masuda) | Understand basics for light-harvesting in photosynthesis |
Class 3 | Molecular mechanisms of light-signal sensing and light-signal transduction in photosynthetic organisms (Masuda) | Understand molecular basics for light-seinsing |
Class 4 | Evolution and diversity of photosynthesis and photosynthetic organisms (Masuda) | Understand evolution of photosynthesis |
Class 5 | Structure, function and development of plastids in plant cells (Tanaka) | Understand plastid functions in divergent plant cells |
Class 6 | Function of plant cells besed on organelle interactions (Tanaka) | Understand interaction among various plant cell organelles |
Class 7 | Evolution and diversity of chloroplasts established by endosymbioses (Tanaka) | Understand endosymbiotic evolution of photosynthetic eukaryotes |
Class 8 | Nitrogen assimilation and its utilization in plants (Hisabori) | Understand the molecular mechanism of nitrogen assimilation in photosynthetic organisms |
Class 9 | Sulfer and phosphorus assimilation and their utilization in plants (Hisabori) | Understand the molecular mechanisms of sulfer and phosphorus assimilations in photosynthetic organisms |
Class 10 | Structure and function of biological membranes in photosynthetic organisms (Shimojima) | Understand molecular basis and function of cellular and subcellular membranes in photosynthetic organisms |
Class 11 | Biosynthesis of membrane and storage lipids in photosynthetic organisms (Shimojima) | Understand molecular mechanism of lipid synthesis and its function in photosynthetic organisms |
Class 12 | Membrane-mediated signal transduction and its importance in various stress responses in photosynthetic organisms (Ohta) | Understand molecular mechanism and function of membrane-mediated signal transduction upon various stress responses in photosynthetic organsms |
Class 13 | Regulation of nitrogen metabolism in eukaryotes (Imamura) | Understand importance of nitrogen and its regulation in eukaryotes |
Class 14 | Regulation of nitrogen metabolism in microalgae (Imamura) | Understand molecular mechanism of nitrogen assimilation in microalgae |
Class 15 | Biofuel production using microalgae (Imamura) | Understanding importance of biofuel production using microalgae |
Will not be used
Kimiyuki Sato (ed): Photosynthesis. Asakura-Shoten; ISBN 4-254-17657-0 C 3345. (Japanese)
Phosynthesis Education Team, The University of Tokyo; ISBN978-4-13-062214-1. (Japanese)
Robert E. Blankenship:
Will not be announced
none