Amiprofos-methyl (APM) is a phosphoric amide herbicide. It reversibly decreases H. vulgare root and shoot length and inhibits in vitro polymerization of Rosa tubulin induced by paclitaxel in a dose-dependent manner. APM completely inhibits tubulin polymerization in Hemanthus endosperm cells at a concentration of 0.1 μM. The antitubulin effects of APM are specific to plants as it has no effect on bovine brain tubulin polymerization at concentrations up to 100 μM. APM inhibits calcium accumulation in corn mitochondria (ID50 = 140 nM) and induces a 3-fold increase in the rate of calcium efflux from rat liver mitochondria at a concentration of 100 nM. APM inhibits the growth of P. falciparum (IC50 = 3.5 μM) and completely inhibits microtubule polymerization in P. falciparum trophozoites at a concentration of 20 μM.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Herbicide that prevents microtubule polymerization in plant cells, but not animal cells. Crop plants resistant to amiprofos-methyl and several other herbicides have been developed by insertion of a xenobiotic-detoxifying human gene CYP2B6.
Safety Profile
A poison by ingestion. Lowtoxicity by skin contact. When heated to decomposition itemits toxic vapors of NOx, SOx, and POx.
