Bioactivation of the Fungal Phytotoxin 2,5-Anhydro-D-glucitol by Glycolytic Enzymesisan Essential Component of itsMechanism of Action

An isolate of Fusarium solani, NRRL 18883, produces the natural phytotoxin 2,5-anhydro-ᴅ-glucitol (AhG). This fungal metabolite inhibited the growth of roots (I50 of 1.6 mᴍ), butit did nothave any in vitro inhibitory activity. The mechanism of action of AhG requires enzymatic phosphorylation by plant glycolytic kinases to yield AhG-1,6-bisphosphate (AhG-1,6- bisP), an inhibitor of Fru-1,6-bisP aldolase. AhG-1,6-bisP had an I50 value of 570 μᴍ on aldolase activity, and it competed with Fru-1,6-bisP for the catalytic site on the enzyme, with a Ki value of 103 μᴍ. The hydroxyl group on the anomeric carbon of Fru-1,6-bisP is required for the formation of an essential covalent bond to ζ amino fu…