Structural Prediction, Glucose-1-Phosphate Interaction and Influence of Broad Leaves Herbicides on Spinach Leaves α-glucan Phosphorylase: An in Silico Study

Starch phosphorylase is a α-glucan-phosphorylase that plays various important roles in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. It is mainly involved in the degradation of starch, however, it has also been reported to be involved in the synthesis of starch especially during abiotic stress conditions. Mutant studies revealed that disruption of this enzyme adversely affects the survival of plants. In the present study, we have established that starch phosphorylase is highly conserved among plant species in terms of protein sequence and 3-dimensional structure. Besides, we theorized degradation by starch phosphorylase as a common plausible mechanism through which herbicides may exert adverse effects on general plant population. Using in silico biology, we provided a clue that some of the commercially available herbicides have potential to bind with the active site of starch phosphorylase and these can competitively inhibit the activity of this vital enzyme.