Transporter-Mediated Subcellular Distribution in the Metabolism and Signaling of Jasmonates

Jasmonates (jasmonic acid and its relatives) are a group of oxylipin phytohormones that are implicated in the regulation of a range of developmental processes and responses to environmental stimuli in plants. The biosynthesis of JAs occur sequentially in various subcellular compartments including the chloroplasts, peroxisomes and the cytoplasm. The biologically active jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile) activates the core JA signaling in the nucleus by binding with its coreceptor, SCF(COI1)-JAZ. Five members of a clade of ATP-binding cassette G (ABCG) transporters of Arabidopsis thaliana were identified as the candidates of jasmonate transporters (JATs) in yeast cells. Among these JATs, AtJAT1/AtABCG16, has a dual localization in the plasma membrane and nuclear envelop and mediates the efflux of jasmonic acid (JA) across the plasma membrane and influx of JA-Ile into the nucleus. Genetic, cellular and biochemical analyses have demonstrated that AtJAT1/AtABCG16 is crucial for modulating JA-Ile concentration in the nucleus to orchestrate JA signaling. AtJAT1 could also be involved in modulating the biosynthesis of JA-Ile by regulating the distribution of JA and JA-Ile in the cytoplasm and nucleus, which would contribute to the highly dynamic JA signaling. Furthermore, other JAT members are localized in the plasma membrane and possibly in peroxisomes. Characterization of these JATs will provide further insights into a crucial role of transporter-mediated subcellular distribution in the metabolism and signaling of plant hormones, an emerging theme supported by the identification of increasing number of endomembrane-localized transporters.