The enzyme participates in biosynthesis of the aromatic amino acids
phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. The enzyme is a target for
herbicides as these amino acids are only synthesized in plants and
microorganisms. Glyphosate acts as a competitive inhibitor for
phosphoenolpyruvate, as substrate of EPSPS, and is used as a
broad-spectrum systemic herbicide.
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