Role of Plant Peroxisomes in the Production of Jasmonic Acid-Based Signals

Jasmonates are a family of oxylipins derived from linolenic acid that control plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress factors and also regulate plant growth and development. Jasmonic acid (JA) is synthesized through the octadecanoid pathway that involves the translocation of lipid intermediates from the chloroplast membranes to the cytoplasm and later on into peroxisomes. The peroxisomal steps of the pathway involve the reduction of cis-(+)-12-oxophytodienoic acid (12-OPDA) and dinor-OPDA, which are the final products of the choroplastic phase of the biosynthetic pathway acting on 18:3 and 16:3 fatty acids, respectively. Further shortening of the carbon side-chain by successive rounds of β-oxidation reactions are required to complete JA biosynthesis. After peroxisomal reactions are completed, (+)-7-iso-JA is synthesized and then transported to the cytoplasm where is conjugated to the amino acid isoleucine to form the bioactive form of the hormone (+)-7-iso-JA-Ile (JA-Ile). Further regulatory activity of JA-Ile triggering gene activation in the jasmonate-dependent signaling cascades is exerted through a process mediated by the perception via the E3 ubiquitin ligase COI1 and further ligand-activated interaction with the family of JAZ repressor proteins. Upon interaction, JAZ are ubiquitinated and degraded by the proteasome, thus releasing transcription factors such as MYC2 from repression and allowing the activation of JA-responsive genes.