The soybean line A2704-12 was developed to allow for the use of
glufosinate ammonium, the active ingredient in phosphinothricin
herbicides (Basta® , Ignite® , Rely® , Liberty® , Harvest® , and
Finale®) as a weed control option. These genetically engineered
soybean lines contain the fungal enzyme
phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase (PAT) that allows these plants
to survive the otherwise lethal application of glufosinate. The pat
gene inserted was isolated from a common soil fungus, Streptomyces
viridochromogenes, and introduced into the soybean genome by
particle acceleration (biolistic) transformation.
The PAT enzyme converts L-phosphinothricin (PPT), the active
ingredient in glufosinate ammonium, to an inactive form thereby
conferring resistance to the herbicide. In absence of PAT,
application of glufosinate leads to reduced production of the amino
acid glutamine and increased ammonia levels in the plant tissues
which are lethal to the plant. The PAT enzyme is not known to have
any toxic properties.
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