A molecular-level basis for the development of new herbicides

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Plants make an essential amino acid, lysine, by a pathway of biochemical steps that build lysine from simpler starting compounds. These steps are catalyzed by proteins called enzymes, and compounds that can inhibit such enzymes could be used as herbicides. To develop safe and selective herbicides, a detailed understanding of the interactions of such compounds with enzymes of interest are necessary. This project aims to explore the mechanism of action of one such compound on a purified plant enzyme target, including high-resolution structural information, leading to the development of new and more effective herbicides that can help reduce the cost of crop production and/or increase crop yield, helping Canadian crop producers and consumers. The results will also improve our understanding of protein binding of small molecules.