Journal or Publishing Institution: Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry
Author(s): Samsel, A. and Seneff, S.
Article Type: Journal Publication
Record ID: 2165
Abstract: Glyphosate, a synthetic amino acid and analogue of glycine, is the most widely used biocide on the planet. Its presence in food for human consumption and animal feed is ubiquitous. Epidemiological studies have revealed a strong correlation between the increasing incidence in the United States of a large number of chronic diseases and the increased use of glyphosate herbicide on corn, soy and wheat crops. Glyphosate, acting as a glycine analogue, may be mistakenly incorporated into peptides during protein synthesis. A deep search of the research literature has revealed a number of protein classes that depend on conserved glycine residues for proper function. Glycine, the smallest amino acid, has unique properties that support flexibility and the ability to anchor to the plasma membrane or the cytoskeleton. Glyphosate substitution for conserved glycines can easily explain a link with diabetes, obesity, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary edema, adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, prion diseases, lupus, mitochondrial disease, non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma, neural tube defects, infertility, hypertension, glaucoma, osteoporosis, fatty liver disease and kidney failure. The correlation data together with the direct biological evidence make a compelling case for glyphosate action as a glycine analogue to account for much of glyphosate’s toxicity. Glufosinate, an analogue of glutamate, likely exhibits an analogous toxicity mechanism. There is an urgent need to find an effective and economical way to grow crops without the use of glyphosate and glufosinate as herbicides.
Keywords: Glyphosate, Amino Acid, Glycine Analogue, Animal Feed, Chronic Disease, Herbicide, Corn, Soy, Wheat, Diabetes, Obesity, Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Pulmonary Edema, Adrenal Insufficiency, Hypothyroidism, Alzheimer’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Prion Diseases, Lupus, Mitochondrial Disease, non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Neural Tube Defects, Infertility, Hypertension, Glaucoma, Osteoporosis, Fatty Liver Disease, Kidney Failure, Toxicity, Glutamate, Glufosinate
Citation: Samsel, A. and Seneff, S., 2016. Glyphosate pathways to modern diseases V: Amino acid analogue of glycine in diverse proteins. Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry, 16, pp.9-46.
