title: Interaction of the herbicide glyphosate with its target enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase in atomic detail.
abstract: Biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids in plants, many bacteria, and microbes relies on the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase, a prime target for drugs and herbicides. We have identified the interaction of EPSP synthase with one of its two substrates (shikimate 3-phosphate) and with the widely used herbicide glyphosate by x-ray crystallography. The two-domain enzyme closes on ligand binding, thereby forming the active site in the interdomain cleft. Glyphosate appears to occupy the binding site of the second substrate of EPSP synthase (phosphoenol pyruvate), mimicking an intermediate state of the ternary enzyme.substrates complex. The elucidation of the active site of EPSP synthase and especially of the binding pattern of glyphosate provides a valuable roadmap for engineering new herbicides and herbicide-resistant crops, as well as new antibiotic and antiparasitic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA. eschoenb@eagle.cc.ukans.edu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schönbrunn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eschenburg
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Shuttleworth
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Schloss
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amrhein
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kabsch
mesh_terms: D051229:3-Phosphoshikimate 1-Carboxyvinyltransferase; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000737:chemistry*; D001665:Binding Sites; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry*; D005561:Formates / Q000737:chemistry; D005998:Glycine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D010728:Phosphoenolpyruvate / Q000737:chemistry; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D000097797:Glyphosate
chemical_list: D051229:3-Phosphoshikimate 1-Carboxyvinyltransferase; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005561:Formates; D005998:Glycine; D006540:Herbicides; D010710:Phosphates; D010728:Phosphoenolpyruvate; D000097797:Glyphosate