L-Glufosinate Ammonium (Syn: Glufosinate-P-Ammonium) is a glutamine synthetase inhibitor and agrochemical used in plant biotechnology as a herbicide. This product is the herbicidally active L-enantiomer. This is in contrast to the unresolved racemic mixture of L- and D-enantiomers (Glufosinate Ammonium). The ammonium salt results from the reaction between equimolar amounts of glufosinate-P and ammonia.
L-Glufosinate Ammonium is very soluble in water.
| Molecular Formula | C5H15N2O4P |
| Mechanism of Action |
L-Glufosinate Ammonium is a glutamine synthetase inhibitor, a critical enzyme for nitrogen metabolism, leading to toxic ammonia accumulation leading to plant death. |
| Spectrum |
L-Glufosinate Ammonium is a broad-spectrum, non-selective herbicide that can control a wide variety of grasses and broadleaf weeds. |
| Plant Biology |
Chiral compounds are composed of two or more enantiomers with the same physicochemical properties, but usually only one of them is active against the target. An investigation of the the differences in toxicity and biodegradation of racemic glufosinate-ammonium and L-glufosinate-ammonium in the model organism green algae (Scenedesmus obliquus) was evaluated. Various biomarkers including malondialdehyde (MDA) content, protein content and antioxidant enzyme activities were determined. Authors found L-Glufosinate-Ammonium more toxic than racemic glufosinate-ammonium (Meng et al, 2022). |
| References |
Chen L et al (2022) Determination of Glufosinate-P-Ammonium in soil using precolumn derivation and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Water. 2022; 14(11):1816 Gia J (2019) Enantioselective degradation and chiral stability of Glufosinate in soil and water samples and formation of 3-Methylphosphinicopropionic acid and n-acetyl-glufosinate metabolites. J. Agr. Food chem. 67 (41): 0021-8561 Meng X et al (2022) Comparing toxicity and biodegradation of racemic glufosinate and L-Glufosinate in green algae Scenedesmus obliquus. Sci. Total Environ. 823, 153791 |
