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Targeting a Herbicide–Resistant Enzyme from Escherichia Coli to Chloroplasts of Higher Plants

Bio/Technology volume 5, pages 579–584 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

5 – Enolpyruvylshikimate – 3 – phosphate (EPSP) synthase is a chloroplast–localized enzyme of the shikimate pathway in plants. The enzyme is synthesized as a cytoplasmic precursor with an N–terminal transit peptide sequence that post–translationally directs import into chloroplasts. EPSP synthase is of significant agronomic importance because it is the primary target for glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide. Roundup®. A gene from Escherichia coli encoding a mutant, glyphosate resistant form of EPSP synthase was fused behind a portion of the cDNA that encodes the transit peptide sequence of Petunia hybrida EPSP synthase. A chimeric enzyme, produced by in vitro transcription and translation of the gene fusion, was rapidly imported into chloroplasts and proteolytically processed to give a stable, glyphosate resistant enzyme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Monsanto Company, Corporate Research and Development Staff, Division of Biological Sciences, 700 Chesterfield Village Parkway, St. Louis, MO, 63198

    S. Christopher Bauer, Mary L. Taylor, Dean E. Rochester, Barbara K. Klein, Dilip M. Shah, Robert T. Fraley & Ganesh M. Kishore

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  1. Guy della-Cioppa
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  2. S. Christopher Bauer
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  3. Mary L. Taylor
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  4. Dean E. Rochester
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  5. Barbara K. Klein
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  6. Dilip M. Shah
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  7. Robert T. Fraley
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  8. Ganesh M. Kishore
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della-Cioppa, G., Christopher Bauer, S., Taylor, M. et al. Targeting a Herbicide–Resistant Enzyme from Escherichia Coli to Chloroplasts of Higher Plants. Nat Biotechnol 5, 579–584 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0687-579

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0687-579

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