2,6-Dichlorobenzonitrile
Encyclopedia
2,6-Dichlorobenzonitrile (DCBN) is a herbicide
and a very potent toxin
for humans. It is metabolized
in the liver by the enzyme
CYP2A6
.
It was discovered in the mid 50s. It has herbicidal properties killing young seedlings of both monocot and dicot species.
Herbicide
Herbicides, also commonly known as weedkillers, are pesticides used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often synthetic "imitations" of plant...
and a very potent toxin
Toxin
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms; man-made substances created by artificial processes are thus excluded...
for humans. It is metabolized
Metabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
in the liver by the enzyme
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
CYP2A6
CYP2A6
Cytochrome P450 2A6 is a member of the cytochrome P450 mixed-function oxidase system, which is involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics in the body. CYP2A6 is the primary enzyme responsible for the oxidation of nicotine and cotinine. It is also involved in the metabolism of several...
.
It was discovered in the mid 50s. It has herbicidal properties killing young seedlings of both monocot and dicot species.