Recent advances in the chemistry and biology of plant oxylipin hormones

Abstract

Jasmonates, including jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives, are lipid-based signaling molecules critical for plant growth, development, and defense. Among these, jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile) has been identified as a bioactive plant hormone that mediates various physiological responses. JA-Ile functions in planta as a ‘molecular glue’ in protein–protein associations to induce the defense-related gene expression for plant–pathogen and plant–insect communications, and it affects many aspects of plant development and stress responses. This review explores the historical journey of jasmonate research, emphasizing the discovery of JA-Ile, its biosynthesis, function as a molecular glue, and the ligand–receptor co-evolutional aspect. The elucidation of the SCFCOI1-JAZ receptor complex and the crystallization of this co-receptor system marked significant advancements in understanding the chemical background of jasmonate biology. This review focuses on the advances in the chemistry and biology of jasmonate bioscience in the past two decades.