Glyphosate-Exonuclease Interactions: Reduced Enzymatic Activity as a Route to Glyphosate Biosensing

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• N-phosphonomethyle-glycine (glyphosate) is the most extensively utilized herbicide globally, offering substantial economic advantages.
• Widespread application of glyphosate has led to its pervasive presence in surface water ecosystems.
• Rapid, on-site detection methods for glyphosate contamination are crucial for public health and environmental monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the inhibitory effects of glyphosate on the enzymatic activity of exonuclease I (Exo I) and T5 exonuclease (T5 Exo).
• To explore the potential of using enzyme inhibition for developing a novel biosensor for glyphosate detection in water.

Main Methods:

• Enzyme activity assays were performed to assess the impact of glyphosate on Exo I and T5 Exo.
• Fluorescence spectroscopy was employed to specifically determine the interaction between glyphosate and Exo I.
• The detection limit of the proposed method was evaluated for water samples.

Main Results:

• Glyphosate was found to hinder the catalytic activity of both Exo I and T5 Exo, slowing down oligonucleotide digestion.
• The inhibition of Exo I by glyphosate was demonstrated to be specific, as evidenced by fluorescence spectroscopy.
• The study achieved a detection limit of 0.6 nm for glyphosate, suitable for drinking water analysis.

Conclusions:

• The specific inhibition of Exo I by glyphosate presents a promising basis for a novel biosensor.
• This biosensor could enable rapid, on-site monitoring of glyphosate contamination in water sources.
• Developing such a tool is vital for timely alerts to authorities and public awareness regarding water quality.