Question:

The broad-spectrum systemic herbicide Glyphosate is formed by oxidative coupling of the methylphosphonic acid with amino group of which one of the following amino acids?

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The name says it all: Glyphosate $\rightarrow$ Glycine.
It is the most successful herbicide in history, particularly when paired with Roundup Ready (GM) crops.
  • Glycine
  • Serine
  • Cysteine
  • Tyrosine
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup. The question asks for the specific amino acid that forms the structural backbone of this herbicide.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:


Chemical Name of Glyphosate: Its technical IUPAC name is N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine.

Structural Components: As the name implies, the molecule consists of a Glycine residue where the nitrogen atom is bonded to a phosphonomethyl group ($-CH_2-PO_3H_2$).

Mode of Action: Glyphosate kills plants by acting as a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme EPSPS (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase). This enzyme is essential for the Shikimate pathway.

Metabolic Impact: By blocking EPSPS, glyphosate prevents the plant from synthesizing essential aromatic amino acids (Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, and Tryptophan), leading to the death of the plant.

Synthesis: Commercially, it is produced by reacting methylphosphonic acid derivatives with the amino group of the simple amino acid Glycine.

Step 3: Final Answer:

The amino acid backbone of the herbicide Glyphosate is Glycine.
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