title: Convergent evolution of disease resistance genes.
abstract: The resistance genes Rpg1-b in soybean and RPM1 in Arabidopsis recognize the same bacterial avirulence protein (AvrB). Recent map-based cloning of Rpg1-b has provided the first opportunity to compare functionally analogous R genes in distantly related species. Rpg1-b and RPM1 are not orthologs. Rather, these genes descended from distinct evolutionary lineages in which recognition of AvrB has probably evolved independently. This result, together with new insights into RPM1-mediated recognition of AvrB, provides an exciting opportunity to reconsider classical views on the evolution of pathogen recognition specificity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science, Fralin Biotechnology Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0346, USA. johnmcd@vt.edu
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McDowell
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D030262:Soybean Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013025:Glycine max / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C100931:AvrB protein, Pseudomonas syringae; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C095014:RPM1 protein, Arabidopsis; D030262:Soybean Proteins