The herbicide glyphosate is a potent inhibitor of 5-enolpyruvylshikimic acid-3-phosphate synthase

Abstract

The broadspectrum herbicide glyphosate (N-[phosphonomethyl]-glycine), which causes the accumulation of shikimic acid in plant tissues, inhibits the enzymatic conversion of shikimic acid to anthranilic acid in a cell-free extract of Aerobacter, aerogenes 50% at 5 to 7 μM concentrations. Of the four enzymes involved in the transformation, only 5-enolpyruvylshikimic acid-3-phosphate synthase is inhibited by the herbicide. © 1980.