JASMONATE SIGNALED PLANT GENE-EXPRESSION

Jasmonic acid is distributed throughout higher plants, synthesized fro m linolenic acid via the octadecanoic pathway. An important and probab ly essential role seems to be its operation as a 'master switch', resp onsible for the activation of signal transduction pathways in response to predation and pathogen attack. Proteins encoded by jasmonate-induc ed genes include enzymes of alkaloid and phytoalexin synthesis, storag e proteins, cell wall constituents and stress protectants. The wound-i nduced formation of proteinase inhibitors is a well-studied example, i n which jasmonic acid combines with abscisic acid and ethylene to prot ect the plant from predation.