2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Chemistry
Natural Product Chemistry
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Chemistry
- Instructor(s)
- Atsushi Minami
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Tue (M-155(H1104)) / 5-6 Fri (M-155(H1104))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CHM.D334
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 5, 2026
- 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
The course will be conducted in a lecture format. In each class, students will work on basic problems related to the content covered in that session.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Common mechanisms in biological chemistry |
Understanding of common mechanisms in biological chemistry. |
| Class 2 | Biomolecules: lipids, carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids |
Understanding of lipids, carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids. |
| Class 3 | Lipid metabolism 1: Triacylglycerol catabolism |
Understanding of triacylglycerol catabolism. |
| Class 4 | Lipid metabolism 2: Fatty acid biosynthesis |
Understanding of fatty acid biosynthesis. |
| Class 5 | Lipid metabolism 3: Terpenoid biosynthesis (mevalonate pathway) |
Understanding of terpenoid biosynthesis (mevalonate pathway). |
| Class 6 | Lipid metabolism 4: Terpenoid biosynthesis (cyclization reaction) |
Understanding of reaction mechanism leading to cyclic products. |
| Class 7 | Advanced contents 1: Biosynthesis of aromatic compounds |
Understanding of biosynthesis of aromatic compounds. |
| Class 8 | Advanced contents 2: Exercises of the content of the first half of the lecture |
Assessing understanding of the first half of the lesson through exercises. |
| Class 9 | Advanced contents 3: Explanations of the content of the first half of the lecture |
Deepen understanding of the content of the first half of the lecture through exercises. |
| Class 10 | Carbohydrate metabolism 1: Glycolysis |
Understanding of glycolysis. |
| Class 11 | Carbohydrate metabolism 2: TCA cycle (citric acid cycle) |
Understanding of fatty acid biosynthesis from acetyl CoA. |
| Class 12 | Carbohydrate metabolism 3: The pentose phosphate pathway |
Understanding of pentose phosphate pathway. |
| Class 13 | Amino acids and their metabolism: Deamination and the urea cycle. |
Understanding of demination and the urea cycle. |
| Class 14 | Advanced contents 4: Biosynthesis of natural products |
Understanding of biosynthesis of natural products. |
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)
Handouts will be distributed as needed.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
The Organic Chemistry of Biological Pathways by McMurry & Begley
Evaluation methods and criteria
Course grades will be based on quizzes (25%), a midterm exam (25%), and a final exam (50%).
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.