MadSci Network: Botany |
There are thousands of enzymes in plants. Plant Physiology texts (Taiz and Zeiger 1998) usually discuss most of the major enzymatic pathways or cycles, including: Calvin cycle in chloroplasts including RUDP carboxylase, the most abundant enzyme on Earth Krebs cycle in mitochondria, including malate dehydrogenase Glycolysis in cytosol, including aldolase Starch formation in plastids, including starch phosphorylase Nitrate assimilation, including nitrate reductase Ammonium assimilation, including glutamine synthetase Sulfur assimilation, including ATP sulfurylase Phosphate assimilation, including phosphoglycerokinase Fatty acid synthesis, including fatty acid synthase There are several to many enzymes for the synthesis of the numerous organic compounds in plants including lignin, cutin, suberin, chlorophyll, cellulose, gibberellic acid, ethylene, abscisic acid, cytokinins, auxins, phytochrome, phototropin, latex, waxes, oils, etc. There are well over 10,000 secondary organic compounds found in plants such as caffeine, rubber, morphine, nicotine, jasmonic acid, tannins, anthocyanins, carotenoids, isoflavonoids, etc. Secondary compounds are mainly involved in plant defense and signaling, the latter often with pigments in flowers and fruits. If you look for websites on biochemical pathways you should be able to find some of those enzymes. There are also many books on plant biochemistry you can find at amazon.com or at a university library. The Enzyme Nomenclature website listed below has lots of information. References The Secondary Metabolism of Plants: Secondary Defence Compounds Pathways for the Production of Plant Secondary Metabolites Enzyme Nomenclature Taiz, L. and Zeiger, E. 1998. Plant Physiology. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates.
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