title: How do oomycete effectors interfere with plant life?
abstract: Oomycete genomes have yielded a large number of predicted effector proteins that collectively interfere with plant life in order to create a favourable environment for pathogen infection. Oomycetes secrete effectors that can be active in the host's extracellular environment, for example inhibiting host defence enzymes, or inside host cells where they can interfere with plant processes, in particular suppression of defence. Two classes of effectors are known to be host-translocated: the RXLRs and Crinklers. Many effectors show defence-suppressive activity that is important for pathogen virulence. A striking example is AVR3a of Phytophthora infestans that targets an ubiquitin ligase, the stabilisation of which may prevent host cell death. The quest for other effector targets and mechanisms is in full swing.
authors.affiliation: Plant-Microbe Interactions, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joost H M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Stassen
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van den Ackerveken
mesh_terms: D016923:Cell Death; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D009868:Oomycetes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D059828:Plant Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D057865:Plant Immunity; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D021381:Protein Transport; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins