2020 Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Chemistry
Natural Product Chemistry
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Chemistry
- Instructor(s)
- Tadashi Eguchi / Fumitaka Kudo
- Class Format
- Lecture (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Tue (H135) / 5-6 Fri (H135)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CHM.D334
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
I Natural products are relatively small molecules, produced mainly by plants and microorganisms, that have a long history of uses (and misuses) by people, e. g. poisons, antibiotics, perfumes, malodor ants, cosmetics, dietary supplements, etc.
II This course will focus on the basis of the biosynthetic pathways that lead to these natural organic compounds.
Course description and aims
After successful completion of this course, students should be able to (1) understand the field of natural products chemistry;
(2) identify natural products and their probable biosynthetic pathways; (3) enhance their understanding of biological and biochemical sciences.
Keywords
Natural products, biochemistry, biosynthesis
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lectures
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | What is natural product? | What is natural product? |
| Class 2 | DNA, RNA, proteins, and central dogma. | Understanding of DNA, RNA, proteins, and central dogma. |
| Class 3 | Primary and secondary metabolisms | Understanding of primary and secondary metabolisms |
| Class 4 | Glycolysis (first and second steps) | Understanding of glycolysis (first and second steps) |
| Class 5 | Glycolysis (third step) | Understanding of glycolysis (third step) |
| Class 6 | TCA cycle | Understanding of TCA cycle |
| Class 7 | Fatty acid biosynthesis from acetyl CoA | Understanding of fatty acid biosynthesis from acetyl CoA |
| Class 8 | Fatty acid related compounds and polyketides. | Understanding of fatty acid related compounds and polyketides. |
| Class 9 | Isoprenoids (mevalonate pathway) | Understanding of isoprenoids (mevalonate pathway) |
| Class 10 | Isoprenoids (Non-mevalonate pathway) | Understanding of isoprenoids (Non-mevalonate pathway) |
| Class 11 | Terpenes and steroids. | Understanding of terpenes and steroids. |
| Class 12 | Aromatic amino acids (shikimate pathway) | Understanding of aromatic amino acids (shikimate pathway) |
| Class 13 | Alkaloids from shipmate pathway. | Understanding of alkaloids from shikimate pathway. |
| Class 14 | Phenylpropanoids (flavonoids). | Understanding of phenylpropanoids (flavonoids). |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Prints
Reference books, course materials, etc.
None
Evaluation methods and criteria
Final Exam
Related courses
- CHM.D201 ： Organic Chemistry I
- CHM.D202 ： Organic Chemistry II
- CHM.D301 ： Organic Chemistry III
Prerequisites
An understanding of the fundamentals of organic chemistry is required for this course.