Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defenses

Code:

B4043

Acronym:

B4043

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2022/2023 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Cell and Molecular Biology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:BCM	6	Official Study Plan until 2023/2024	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

This curricular unit has as main objective to provide an integrated insight into the physiological and biochemical processes underlying the damages induced by abiotic stress factors, as well as the adaptation and acclimatization mechanisms of animal and plant cells to face those challenges.

As specific objectives, the following can be highlighted:

- understand the consequences of abiotic stress exposure on the redox homeostasis of plant cells, with a special focus on the identification of the reactive oxygen species (ROS), their reactivity and cytotoxicity, cellular sites and metabolic sources of production, and situations that favour their overproduction and increased accumulation, ultimately resulting in oxidative damage at the cellular level;

- identify and characterize the enzymatic and non-enzymatic components of the antioxidant defence system and their functions to ensure cellular homeostasis;

- Pinpoint strategies to boost animal and plant cells’ tolerance to different types of abiotic stress conditions.  

Learning outcomes and competences

 Upon conclusion of the CU, the student should be able to:

- Identify the main reactive oxygen species (ROS), the intracellular sites of production, and situations favouring their increased generation and accumulation, as well as their role in the redox homeostasis in animal and plant cells;

- Understand that the antioxidant (AOX) system is an important and fundamental defence mechanism of both animals and plants;

- Build-up knowledge and recognize the importance of studying animal and plant responses to environmental challenges;

- Develop laboratory skills within the field of the CU, namely in the evaluation of oxidative stress markers and parameters related to the AOX defence system;

- Deepen and develop research and communication skills, both oral and/or writing;

- Improve critical thinking in the reading and discussion of scientific works.

 

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

na

Program

• Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS): types of ROS, cellular sites of production, and metabolic pathways involved. Disturbances in redox homeostasis and induction of oxidative stress. Symptoms of oxidative damage. ROS as signal molecules in the induction of stress tolerance. Oxidative stress and programmed cell death.


• Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense system. Antioxidant network. Comparative aspects between animal and plant eukaryotic cells.


• ROS signaling and reactive nitrogen species (RNS).


• Regulation of gene expression by ROS and epigenetic modifications.


• Relationship between the metabolism of reactive species with aging and/or metabolic disorders in animal models.


• The relevance of oxidative stress in the plant-environment interaction. Concepts of acclimation and adaptation. Physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of plant cells to abiotic stresses.

Mandatory literature

Vijay Pratap Singh; Reactive oxygen species in plants. ISBN: 978-1-119-28729-2
Soares C, Carvalho M, Azevedo RA, Fidalgo F. ; Plants facing oxidative challenges - A little help from the antioxidant networks, Environmental and Experimental Botany 161, 4-25. doi: 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2018.12.009, 2019

Complementary Bibliography

Lincoln Taiz; Plant physiology and development. ISBN: 978-1-60535-255-8

Comments from the literature

The recommended bibliography (books) is available at the FCUP Central library (ed. FC1).
Complementary elements of the study will also be made available by the teachers of the curricular unit, namely, scientific articles.

Teaching methods and learning activities

- Lectures and laboratory classes.
- Lectures are presented in slideshow using "PowerPoint". They are strongly supported in dialogues with students, and exercises/problems about the subject of the curricular unit.
- Laboratory classes enable the acquisition of specific skills, including those arising from the implementation of practical experiments.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	80,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	20,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	4,00
Estudo autónomo	100,00
Frequência das aulas	38,00
Trabalho de investigação	20,00
Trabalho escrito
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

It is mandatory to attend the practical classes - minimum 75%.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final exam covering theory and practical subjects graded to 16 points (FE)

Evaluation/discussion of research article (oral presentation), graded to 4 points (OP)

Final grade -  FE + OP

Final exam minimum mark - 6 point

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Working-students may be subjected to an additional complementary evaluation of practical nature.

Classification improvement

Classification improvement only for the final exam (FE) component.