Evolutionary and Biochemical Origins of Oxylipin Signaling

Organisms belonging to different multicellular eukaryotic lineages use strikingly similar compounds - oxylipins - for cell-to-cell signaling. Moreover, in several kingdoms, including vertebrates and plants, oxylipin signaling has convergently acquired similar biological functions, particularly in mediating responses to tissue injury. Oxylipins are also produced by some bacteria; however, the biological role of these compounds remains unclear. In this article, we integrate bioinformatic and literature data to reconstruct the evolutionary history of oxylipins as the basis of a universal communication system of living organisms. We demonstrate that oxylipin signaling has evolved independently on multiple occasions, thus indicating that selection pressure for such evolutionary processes is associated with the universal biochemistry of oxidative stress. Finally, we discuss medical and agricultural implications of the convergent evolution of oxylipin signaling.