Difference between revisions of "Team:Goettingen/Background"

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        <h2>Background</h2>
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    <p>Glyphosate was first described by Dr. Henri Martin in 1950, while working for the pharmaceutical company Cilag. The structural formula of glyphosate is similar to the amino acid glutamate, with the main difference being a phosphorus atom linked covalently to the carbon backbone. Glutamate is involved in protein biosynthesis as well as functioning as neurotransmitter in the human central nervous system. </p>
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        <img src=https://2018.igem.org/File:T--Goettingen--Structural_formula_glyphosate_glutamate.png> <p>Structural comparison of glyphosate and glutamate</p>
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        <img src="https://2018.igem.org/File:T--Goettingen--roundup_logo_mittel.png">
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        <p>Logo of the Roundup products</p>
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    <p>The herbicidal properties of glyphosate were first discovered in 1970 by Dr. John E. Franz, a chemist working for Monsanto. It was patented and introduced to the market as active component in the developed “Roundup®” products in 1974. Glyphosate is a so-called “total-herbicide”, being effective against every kind of plant through the inhibition of the Shikimate pathway. Monsanto sells genetically modified seeds together with the Roundup products to use the full potential of glyphosate. The usage rate of Glyphosate has been ever increasing since its release and is still increasing up to this day, making it the most used herbicide in the USA. </p>
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        <img src="https://2018.igem.org/File:T--Goettingen--Global_glyphosate_usage.png">
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        <p>Glyphosate usage over the last two decades. The increase can be described with a linear growing curve. </p>
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    <h3>How does Glyphosate work?</h3>
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    <p>Glyphosate targets the EPSP Synthase in the Shikimate pathway of plants and bacteria. This pathway is used to form essential aromatic amino acids, like Tyrosin, Phenylalanine and Tryptophane, which serve as building blocks for proteins and play a crucial role in metabolism. Amino acids are building blocks for proteins in every organism and thus have to be acquired through nutrition or generated by the organism themselves. </p>
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        <img src=https://2018.igem.org/File:T--Goettingen--shikimate_pathway_ordinary.png> <p>Fully functional Shikimate pathway. The enzyme EPSP-synthase is needed<br /> in order to form the three essential aromatic amino acids Phenylalanine,<br /> Tryptophane and Tyrosine.</p>
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    <p>Glyphosates ability to inhibit this pathway is the reason why it also classifies as antibiotic, as bacteria are also not able to synthesize the essential amino acids anymore and pass away. </p>
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        <img src=https://2018.igem.org/File:T--Goettingen--glyphosate_interrupts_pathway.png> <p>Shikimate pathway interrupted through Glyphosate. Through inhibition <br /> of the EPSP Synthase with Glyphosate the amino acids can’t be generated<br /> anymore. </p>
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Revision as of 09:50, 3 September 2018

Background

Glyphosate was first described by Dr. Henri Martin in 1950, while working for the pharmaceutical company Cilag. The structural formula of glyphosate is similar to the amino acid glutamate, with the main difference being a phosphorus atom linked covalently to the carbon backbone. Glutamate is involved in protein biosynthesis as well as functioning as neurotransmitter in the human central nervous system.

Structural comparison of glyphosate and glutamate

Logo of the Roundup products

The herbicidal properties of glyphosate were first discovered in 1970 by Dr. John E. Franz, a chemist working for Monsanto. It was patented and introduced to the market as active component in the developed “Roundup®” products in 1974. Glyphosate is a so-called “total-herbicide”, being effective against every kind of plant through the inhibition of the Shikimate pathway. Monsanto sells genetically modified seeds together with the Roundup products to use the full potential of glyphosate. The usage rate of Glyphosate has been ever increasing since its release and is still increasing up to this day, making it the most used herbicide in the USA.

Glyphosate usage over the last two decades. The increase can be described with a linear growing curve.

How does Glyphosate work?

Glyphosate targets the EPSP Synthase in the Shikimate pathway of plants and bacteria. This pathway is used to form essential aromatic amino acids, like Tyrosin, Phenylalanine and Tryptophane, which serve as building blocks for proteins and play a crucial role in metabolism. Amino acids are building blocks for proteins in every organism and thus have to be acquired through nutrition or generated by the organism themselves.

Fully functional Shikimate pathway. The enzyme EPSP-synthase is needed
in order to form the three essential aromatic amino acids Phenylalanine,
Tryptophane and Tyrosine.

Glyphosates ability to inhibit this pathway is the reason why it also classifies as antibiotic, as bacteria are also not able to synthesize the essential amino acids anymore and pass away.

Shikimate pathway interrupted through Glyphosate. Through inhibition
of the EPSP Synthase with Glyphosate the amino acids can’t be generated
anymore.