Oxylipins in Plants: The Peroxygenase Pathway

Abstract

Oxylipins are commonly found metabolites in higher plants and most of them originate from polyunsaturated fatty acid hydroperoxides by enzymatic transformations which have been extensively studied (for recent reviews, see 1,2). Two well characterized enzymes: a lyase and an allene oxide synthase were shown to degrade hydroperoxides into compounds of physiological importance since they can ultimately yield fragrances or plant hormones such as jasmonic acid. We have recently reported a new fate for fatty acid hydroperoxides: the peroxygenase pathway. It involves two enzyme activities i.e. a peroxygenase and an epoxide hydrolase which lead to the formation of epoxidized fatty acids and their derived dihydrodiols which are relevant to plant defense mechanisms.