Transgenic plants containing the phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase gene metabolize the herbicide L-phosphinothricin (glufosinate) differently from untransformed plants.

L-Phosphinothricin (L-Pt)-resistant plants were constructed by introducing a modified phosphinothricin-N-acetyl-transferase gene (pat) via Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L), and via direct gene transfer into carrot (Daucus carota L). The metabolism of L-Pt was studied in these transgenic, Pt-resistant plants, as well as in the untransformed species. The degradation of L-Pt, (14)C-labeled specifically at different C-atoms, was analysed by measuring the release of (14)CO2 and by separating the labeled degradation products on thin-layer-chromatography plates. In untransformed tobacco and carrot plants, L-Pt was deaminated to form its corresponding oxo acid 4-methylphosphinico-2-oxo-butanoic acid (PPO), which subsequently was decarboxylated to form 3-methylphosphinico-propanoic acid (MPP). This compound was stable in plants. A third metabolite remained unidentified. The L-Pt was rapidly N-acetylated in herbicide-resistant tobacco and carrot plants, indicating that the degradation pathway of L-Pt into PPO and MPP was blocked. The N-acetylated product, L-N-acetyl-Pt remained stable with regard to degradation, but was found to exist in a second modified form. In addition, there was a pH-dependent, reversible change in the mobility of L-N-acetyl-Pt thin-layer during chromatography.