Suzanne
Pusey, Jacob Shaul
Varieties
of crop plants have been genetically modified to be glyphosate resistant (the
active ingredient in Round-up). Glyphosate inhibits the production of 3-enoylpyruvyl
shikamate 5-phospate synthase (EPSPS), an important enzyme in the shikimate pathway.
This is a major pathway in the production of aromatic amino acids among other
essential products. A controversy arises when there is the possibility of lateral
gene transfer from a genetically modified organism. A species of ryegrass, Lolium
rigidum, provides an example of this controversy in that a population of rye
grass has shown resistance. The aims of this project are to analyze the EPSPS
gene sequence in Lolium rigidum and determine the mechanism of glyphosate
resistance.
