Abstract
Phytoalexins are low molecular weight antimicrobial compounds that are produced by plants as a response to biotic and abiotic stresses. As such they take part in an intricate defense system which enables plants to control invading microorganisms. In this review we present the key features of this diverse group of molecules, namely their chemical structures, biosynthesis, regulatory mechanisms, biological activities, metabolism and molecular engineering.
Highlights
Phytoalexins are low molecular weight antimicrobial compounds that are produced by plants as a response to biotic and abiotic stresses
The main phytoalexin from Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) has been the subject of numerous studies focusing on its biosynthetic pathway and the regulatory networks involved in its production in the model plant
A number of transformations were completed in alfalfa, rice, barley, wheat, tomato, papaya and Arabidopsis using the same STS genes or STS genes from other plant origins, conferring resistance to various pathogens [1]. All these results clearly showed that phytoalexins could act as determinant factors in the expression of the defense mechanisms of plants against phytopathogenic microorganisms though there are rare examples of STS
Summary
Phytoalexins take part in an intricate defense system used by plants against pests and pathogens [1,2]. Phytoalexins are restricted to compounds produced from remote precursors, through de novo synthesis of enzymes This peculiarity makes deciphering their biosynthesis and regulation mechanisms very complex [1,2]. The question as to whether phytoalexins are active in vivo and play a significant role in plant defense mechanisms has long been debated addressing both the actual antimicrobial activity of phytoalexins under the conditions found within plant tissues and their localization around invading organisms [15,16]. Work on phytoalexins has been prolific and the production of these compounds in infected tissues has become one of the most intensively studied mechanisms of disease resistance in plants. This review will focus on some of the main features of phytoalexins:
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