Methods for the identification of inhibitors of 2'-hydroxyisoflavone reductase expression or activity in plants

A method for identifying a compound as a candidate for a herbicide, comprising:

• a) contacting a compound with at least one polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
• an amino acid sequence comprising at least ten consecutive amino acids of a plant IFR, an amino acid sequence having at least 85% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2, and an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity with is SEQ ID NO:2 and at least 50% of the activity thereof;
• and
• b) detecting the presence and/or absence of binding between said compound and said polypeptide;
• wherein binding indicates that said compound is a candidate for a herbicide.

A method for identifying a compound as a candidate for a herbicide, comprising:

• a) contacting a 2′-hydroxyformononetin and NADPH with a plant IFR;
• b) contacting said 2′-hydroxyformononetin and NADPH with said IFR and said candidate compound;
• and
• c) determining the concentration of at least one of vestitone, NADP+, 2′-hydroxyformononetin, and/or NADPH after the contacting of steps (a) and (b).

A method for identifying a compound as a candidate for a herbicide, comprising:

• a) contacting vestitone and NADP+ with a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
• a polypeptide having at least 85% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2, a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2 and at least 50% of the activity thereof, and a polypeptide comprising at least 100 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2;
• b) contacting said vestitone and NADP+ with said polypeptide and said compound;
• c) determining the concentration of at least one of vestitone, NADP+, 2′-hydroxyformononetin and/or NADPH after the contacting of steps (a) and (b).

A method for identifying a compound as a candidate for a herbicide, comprising:

• a) contacting a 2′-hydroxyformononetin and NADPH with a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
• a polypeptide having at least 85% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2, a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2 and at least 50% of the activity thereof, and a polypeptide comprising at least 100 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2;
• b) contacting said 2′-hydroxyformononetin and NADPH + with said polypeptide and said compound;
• and
• c) determining the concentration of at least one of vestitone, NADP+, 2′-hydroxyformononetin and/or NADPH after the contacting of steps (a) and (b).