Biosynthesis and metabolism of jasmonates

Jasmonates are derived from oxygenated fatty acids via the octadecanoid pathway and characterized by a pentacyclic ring structure. They have regulatory function as signaling molecules in plant development and adaptation to environmental stress. Until recently, it was the cyclopentanone jasmonic acid (JA) that attracted most attention as a plant growth regulator. It becomes increasingly clear, however, that biological activity is not limited to JA but extends to, and may even differ between its many metabolites and conjugates as well as its cyclopentenone precursors. The enzymes of jasmonate bio-synthesis and metabolism may thus have a regulatory function in controlling the activity and relative levels of different signaling molecules. Such a function is supported by both the characterization of loss of function mutants in Arabidopsis, and the biochemical characterization of the enzymes themselves.