Evolution of Caffeine Biosynthesis Enzymes (Student View)

Submitted by molecadmin on Mon, 01/20/2020 - 10:13

Authors: Brian Sullivan (University of North Carolina), and Shuchismita Dutta* (Rutgers University, NJ); *contact: sdutta@rcsb.rutgers.edu

Citation and Adaptations: doi:10.25334/225Z-KR22

Work funded by NSF grant # 1827011

 

Video source: This video was created for this case in Molecular CaseNet. Please cite the case if you copy, post, or share it.

Case Overview

Complete Case for students of: Biology

Why use this case?

Prior to case discussion (Homework): Read the newspaper article (pdf), abstract of the related scientific article (Denoeud et al., Science, 2014, 345, 1181-1184, doi:10.1126/science.1255274), and watch the video as instructed in the Preparation section and answer the questions

Resources to learn more

Scientific article (doi:10.1126/science.1255274)


Question: Why and how do plants make caffeine? Do they all make it the same way?
Biology Getting to Structure: Part 1: Why and How do Plants make Caffeine?
  Molecular Exploration: Part 2: Biosynthesis of Caffeine in Molecular Detail
  Modeling: Part 3: Evolution of Caffeine biosynthesis
  Assessment: Biosynthesis of a Medicinal Alkaloid

Adaptation(s):

Authors+Date; DOI Title Adaptation Notes