title: Moving targets: rapid evolution of oomycete effectors.
abstract: Plant pathogenic microbes secrete proteins known as effectors, which enter the cytoplasm of plant cells and suppress host defences. Known effectors in oomycete pathogens possess an RXLR-EER motif in their amino acid sequence that is necessary for transport of the effector into a host plant cell. A large number of putative effectors have now been identified in oomycete genomes, the sequences of which show evidence of diversifying selection at their C terminus. Here, we describe recent progress in characterizing RXLR-EER effectors and discuss why so many of these rapidly evolving proteins are encoded by the genomes of plant pathogenic oomycetes.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
authors.forename: Darren M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Soanes
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Talbot
mesh_terms: D020418:Algal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D009868:Oomycetes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D021381:Protein Transport
chemical_list: D020418:Algal Proteins