Sticking to it: phytopathogen effector molecules may converge on evolutionarily conserved host targets in green plants.
Accepted version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Change log
Authors
Abstract
• Phytopathogen effectors converge on similar sets of host proteins in angiosperms. • Effectors may target host proteins and processes present across the green plant lineage. • Bryophyte model plants are promising systems to investigate effector–target relationships. Plant-associated microbes secrete effector proteins that subvert host cellular machinery to facilitate the colonization of plant tissues and cells. Accumulating data suggests that independently evolved effectors from bacterial, fungal, and oomycete pathogens may converge on a similar set of host proteins in certain angiosperm models, however, whether this concept is relevant throughout the green plant lineage is unknown. Here, we explore the idea that pathogen effector molecules target host proteins present across evolutionarily distant land plant lineages to promote disease. We discuss that host proteins targeted by phytopathogens or integrated into angiosperm immune receptors are likely found across green plant genomes, from early diverging non-vascular lineages (bryophytes) to flowering plants (angiosperms). This would suggest that independently evolved pathogens might manipulate their hosts by targeting `vulnerability’ hubs that are present across land plants. Future work focusing on accessible early divergent land plant model systems may therefore provide an insightful evolutionary backdrop for effector–target research.
Description
Keywords
Journal Title
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
1879-0356
Volume Title
Publisher
Publisher DOI
Sponsorship
The Royal Society (uf110073)
Gatsby Charitable Foundation (unknown)
Natural Environment Research Council (NE/N00941X/1)
Royal Society (RGF/EA/180002)
Gatsby Charitable Foundation (GAT3395/GLD)
Royal Society (UF160413)