The isolation of carbocyclic coformycin as the herbicidally active component from a fermentation of Saccharothrix species was described previously (B.D. Bush, G.V. Fitchett, D.A. Gates, D. Langley [1993] Phytochemistry 32: 737-739). Here we report that the primary mode of action of carbocyclic coformycin has been identified as inhibition of the enzyme AMP deaminase (EC 3.5.4.6) following phosphorylation at the 5' hydroxyl on the carbocyclic ring in vivo. When pea (Pisum sativum L. var Onward) seedlings are treated with carbocyclic coformycin, there is a very rapid and dramatic increase in ATP levels, indicating a perturbation in purine metabolism. Investigation of the enzymes of purine metabolism showed a decrease in the extractable activity of AMP deaminase that correlates with a strong, noncovalent association of the phosphorylated natural product with the protein. The 5'-phosphate analog of the carbocyclic coformycin was synthesized and shown to be a potent, tight binding inhibitor of AMP deaminase isolated from pea seedlings. Through the use of a synthetic radiolabeled marker, rapid conversion of carbocyclic coformycin to the 5'-phosphate analog could be demonstrated in vivo. It is proposed that inhibition of AMP deaminase leads to the death of the plant through perturbation of the intracellular ATP pool.