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H2020Individual fellowship2016–2018

EXPHYLL · Discovery of new herbicides through an exploration of the chemistry and biology of the naturally occurring phyllostictines

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2016-05-01 → 2018-04-30
EU contribution
€195,455
Participants
1
Scheme
MSCA-IF-EF-ST

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Results in brief

Discovery of new herbicides through an exploration of the chemistry and biology of the naturally occurring phyllostictines

"With a rapidly growing world population combined with a loss of available agricultural land, there is an urgent need to increase the efficiency of food production to prevent global food shortages. Herbicides play an important part in improving crop yields by protecting them from invasive weeds. To address the rising levels of resistance emerging against existing crop protection agents, and to improve the environment safety associated with such agents, there is an urgent need to discover and develop new herbicides with novel mechanisms of action to fight weeds. In this search, natural products with their unique chemical architectures and prominent bioactivities offer an excellent entry point. In 2008, researchers discovered a new and promising class of herbicide produced by a common fungus. The most active compound was named phyllostictine A and was shown be more active in an assay against the wheat pest thistle than fusaric acid, a well-known and powerful toxin; and faster acting than the well known and often used herbicide glyphosate. Consequently, phyllostictine A offers a potentially exciting new lead in the development of new herbicides. The overall objectives of the project were to: - develop new sustainable chemical methods that can be used to make phyllostictine A and related chemical structures in the laboratory; - make the natural product in the laboratory, to unambiguously confirm its chemical structure and determine the ""handedness"" (chirality) of the molecule. - explore the weed killing potential of the new chemicals made under this programme to see if we can find new, easy-to-make compounds that mimic the behaviour of the natural product. - use these new agents to help learn how phyllostictine kills weeds at the molecular level."

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Phyllostictine A (PA) is the most potent member of a new class of natural product isolated from the fungus phyllosticta cirsii that displays strong herbicidal activity and is an exciting new lead in crop protection. Martin Riemer (PhD 2014, University of Potsdam, Germany) will undertake the first chemical synthesis of phyllostictine A (PA) at the University of Warwick, UK and participate in a multi-disciplinary project that spans the interface between chemistry and biology. PA constitutes a formidable synthetic challenge and its synthesis will require him to develop a variety of new chemical reactions and processes. Emphasis will be placed on sustainable, catalytic transformations and on adhering to the principles of the ‘ideal’ synthesis (e.g. atom, step and redox economy), work which builds directly on the applicant’s skills and expertise. Through a secondment to Rothamsted Research, Riemer will broaden his knowledge base by testing a selection of synthetic analogues against invasive weeds. Taken together, these activities will advance our understanding of the mode of action of PA, and pave the way for the development of simplified analogues for use in agriculture. Moreover, through the planned training and mentoring activities, Riemer will develop into an outstanding early career researcher of great potential.

Original text from CORDIS.

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Data: CORDIS, © European Union