Structure, Chemical Analysis, Biosynthesis, Metabolism, Molecular Engineering and Biological Functions of Phytoalexins

Dear Colleagues,

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. Phytoalexins display an enormous diversity belonging to various chemical families such as isoflavones, isoflavanones, pterocarpans, isoflavans, flavanones, coumestans, furanoacetylenes, phenylpropanoids, steroid glycoalkaloids, norsesquiterpenoids/sesquiterpenoids, coumarins, diterpenes, ent-kaurane-related diterpenoids, acidic sesquiterpenoids, 3-deoxyanthocyanidins, naphthaldehydes, indoles, stilbenes, etc. This Special Issue is the continuation of that published in 2014-2015 entitled "Phytoalexins: Current Progress and Future Prospects" http://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules/special_issues/phytoalexins-progress. Nineteen articles were published in this first issue, including both research and review papers. As phytoalexins constitute a very active field of research, we feel it necessary to have a second Special Issue dedicated to the study of those compounds. Original and review papers dealing with all aspects of phytoalexins, including structure elucidation; chemical synthesis; methods for phytoalexin analysis in plant extracts or biological fluids; biosynthesis studies including modulation of phytoalexin synthesis; engineering of phytoalexin biochemical pathways in plants and microbes; biological roles in health and disease; structure/activity relationships; phytoalexin metabolism in planta and by micro-organisms, transport mechanisms and bioproduction by microorganisms or plant cell systems, etc., are welcome for inclusion in this Special Issue of Molecules.

Prof. Dr. Philippe Jeandet
Guest Editor

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