Jasmonates: Understanding of Biosynthesis, Metabolism and Action

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past few decades, lipid-derived jasmonates (JAs) have been recognized as crucial players in plant stress response and their immunity against biotic/abiotic environmental factors. However, it cannot be forgotten that JAs are crucial for the harmonious course of plant ontogeny since they regulate, for example, tuberous root formation, flower morphogenesis, fruit and seed formation, microbe symbiosis, and senescence. The biosynthesis and signaling of these phytohormones have been extensively studied since the 1980s. The formation of a central compound—jasmonic acid (JA)—starts with oxygenation of chloroplast membranes lipids and leads to the synthesis of 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA), a direct precursor of JA. Apart from the chloroplasts, multistage JAs biosynthesis and metabolism reactions also take place in the peroxisomes and the cytosol, and involve numerous genes, enzymes, transcription factors, repressor proteins, and target genes, making the process a very complex one. JA is the initial molecule for the reactions of conjugation, hydroxylation, methylation, and so on. Consequently, inactive, partially active, and fully active compounds are formed. The identification of CORONATINE INSENSITIVE 1 contributed to the classification of JA-Ile as a bioactive molecule. Nevertheless, other JA conjugates exhibit biological activity, for instance, inducing the emission of volatile organic compounds. Therefore, it is not excluded that although the receptors of these compounds have not been already identified, they can play a signaling role, similarly to JA-Ile. Many studies have revealed that the JAs action in the modulation of plant growth and responses largely depends on their interaction with various hormones, for example, gibberellins, cytokinin, auxin, ethylene, and other growth regulators. Interestingly, JAs exhibit anti-cancerogenic activity and inhibit the growth of human cancer cells, which is a particularly intriguing research topic for interdisciplinary studies.

This Special Issue aims to collect novel insights into the regulatory role of JAs in various areas of biology. Both original papers and reviews are welcome.

Dr. Emilia Wilmowicz
Dr. Agata Kućko
Guest Editors

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• Jasmonates
• Plant development and physiology
• Jasmonate biosynthesis
• Signal transduction
• Stress responses
• Jasmomic acid
• Transcriptional regulators
• Jasmonate coniugation
• Lipid-derived phytohormones
• Jasmonate cross-talk