Salicylic Acid Biosynthesis and Metabolism

Salicylic acid (SA) has been shown to regulate various aspects of growth and development; it also serves as a critical signal for activating disease resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana and other plant species. This review surveys the mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of this critical plant hormone. While a complete biosynthetic route has yet to be established, stressed Arabidopsis appear to synthesize SA primarily via an isochorismate-utilizing pathway in the chloroplast. A distinct pathway utilizing phenylalanine as the substrate also may contribute to SA accumulation, although to a much lesser extent. Once synthesized, free SA levels can be regulated by a variety of chemical…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 0820405, IOS-0525360, 0241531, 0958100, 0525360
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Award: SFB924
• DO
  Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences