Cyanobacterial antimetabolite 7-deoxy-sedoheptulose blocks the shikimate pathway to inhibit the growth of prototrophic organisms

Abstract

Mother Nature is a valuable resource for the discovery of drug and agricultural chemicals. Here, the authors show that 7-deoxy-sedoheptulose produced by a cyanobacterium is an antimicrobial and herbicidal compound that acts through inhibition of 3-dehydroquniate synthase in the shikimate pathway.