Shikimate Pathway Inhibitors for Selective Herbicidal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for novel herbicides that are non-cancerogenic and non-detrimental to humans and animals, as existing herbicides like glyphosate may be harmful and have adverse effects on plants and animals.
Innovation Solution
Development of specific compounds of formula (I) that inhibit enzymes in the shikimate pathway, which are highly effective in small doses without side effects, including 7-deoxy-2-heptulose derivatives that target enzymes like 3-dehydroquinate synthase, offering higher stability and specificity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glyphosate is used as an herbicide, then herbicidal activity is achieved, but harmful effects on humans and animals increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters by targeting a different enzyme (3-dehydroquinate synthase instead of EPSPS) and developing novel compound structures (7-deoxy-2-heptulose derivatives) that specifically inhibit the shikimate pathway without the harmful effects of glyphosate, thereby maintaining herbicidal activity while reducing toxicity to humans and animals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new chemical intermediary (7-deoxy-2-heptulose and its derivatives) that acts as a safer alternative to glyphosate by mediating inhibition of the shikimate pathway through a different mechanism, thus achieving herbicidal activity without the carcinogenic and harmful effects associated with glyphosate
2Productivity
If existing herbicides are used, then herbicidal effect is achieved, but side effects on plants and animals occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing compounds with specific structural features (7-deoxy-2-heptulose derivatives with particular functional groups and stereochemistry) that confer selective toxicity - highly effective against target organisms while being non-detrimental to humans and animals, thus achieving high productivity with minimal harmful side effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical and biological parameters by developing novel inhibitors with different molecular structures and mechanisms of action compared to existing herbicides, resulting in compounds that maintain high herbicidal effectiveness while eliminating harmful side effects on non-target plants and animals
3Reliability
If high doses of herbicides are used, then herbicidal activity increases, but harmful effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the dosage parameters by developing highly potent compounds (7-deoxy-2-heptulose derivatives) that achieve maximum herbicidal activity at very low concentrations (e.g., 50-200 μM), thereby maintaining high reliability of herbicidal action while minimizing harmful effects that would occur at higher doses
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These compounds effectively inhibit bacterial, fungal, and plant growth at low concentrations, demonstrating a higher activity than glyphosate, with minimal impact on humans and animals, making them suitable as antibiotics, herbicides, and fungicides.
Implementation Method 1
These compounds are useful inhibitors of an enzyme involved in the shikimate pathway. They are highly specific and already highly effective in small doses without any side effects for humans or animals.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to novel inhibitors of the shikimate pathway (shikimic acid pathway), pharmaceutical compositions comprising these novel inhibitors, methods for the production of the inhibitors and their use as antibiotics and herbicides.