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The herbicidally active experimental compound Hoe 704 is a potent inhibitor of the enzyme acetolactate reductoisomerase
Author(s) -
Schulz Arno,
Spönemann Petra,
Köcher Helmut,
Wengenmayer Friedrich
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(88)80515-5
Subject(s) - chemistry , acetolactate synthase , enzyme , pharmacology , biochemistry , medicine
Growth inhibition of plants and bacteria by the experimental herbicide Hoe 704 (2‐methylphosphinoyl‐2‐hydroxyacetic acid) was alleviated by the addition of the branched‐chain amino acids to growth media. Hoe 704 caused a massive accumulation of acetoin and acetolactate, indicating its direct interference with the branched‐chain amino acid biosynthetic pathway. The second enzyme of this pathway, acetolactate reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), was found to be subject to strong inhibition by Hoe 704. The inhibition was time‐dependent and competitive with the enzyme's substrate, acetolactate. This report establishes acetolactate reductoisomerase as a new target for a herbicidal compound.