ENZYMES INVOLVED IN JASMONIC ACID BIOSYNTHESIS

(+)-7-epi-Jasmonic acid has attracted much attention as an inducible p lant signal that stimulates the expression of an array of wound-induci ble and defence-related genes as well as playing a role in various dev elopmental responses. This review focuses on the enzymology of jasmona te biosynthesis and addresses open questions with respect to the regul ation and subcellular localisation of the jasmonic acid pathway. The a pparent analog of jasmonate biosynthesis from a-linolenic acid in plan ts with that of the arachidonate-derived signalling molecules of the l eukotriene- and prostaglandin-type in animals make the jasmonic acid c ascade one of general biological interest.