Structure and inhibition of acetohydroxyacid synthase

乙酰羟酸合成酶（AHAS）已被确定为磺酰脲类和咪唑啉酮类除草剂的靶标。在全球范围内，这两种除草剂的年销售额为20亿美元。目的是确定AHAS的三维结构，从几个来源，并在复杂的这些除草剂。此外，AHAS似乎是开发抗菌化合物和杀真菌剂的极好目标。这些酶的三维结构的知识将是重要的，在更有效的抑制剂的合理设计与改进的选择性。

Acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) has been identified as the target for several widely used herbicides known as the sulfonylureas and imidazolinones. World-wide, these two herbicides account for $US2 billion in annual sales. The aim is to determine the three-dimensional structure of AHAS from several sources and in complex with these herbicides. Furthermore, AHAS appears to be an excellent target for the development of antibacterial compounds and fungicides. Knowledge of the three dimensional structures of these enzymes will be important in the rational design of more effective inhibitors with improved selectivity.