| Abstract: | The work undertaken to isolate the novel, herbicidally active compound, carbocyclic coformycin, to obtain sufficient quantities of the compound for full biological evaluation, and to identify its biochemical mode of action is summarised. Although the compound was extremely active against some weed species, limitations in its spectrum of activity precluded further development. Carbocyclic coformycin exerts its biological action through a novel mode of action by the inhibition of the enzyme adenosine 5′-phosphate deaminase (EC 3.5.4.6) following phosphorylation in planta. From this work, the potential benefits of natural product research in the discovery of new agrochemicals are highlighted along with some of the possible pitfalls. © 1998 SCI. |
