Editor's Summary
1 November 2007
Common entrance
Many plant and animal pathogens evade host immunity systems by injecting virulence or effector proteins into the host cells. A study of the fungus Phytophthora infestans, the potato blight pathogen, has identified a conserved peptide motif in effector proteins that is required for movement of effectors from specialized infection structures called haustoria into plant cells. This sequence, called RXLR-EER, was recently reported to be required for the translocation of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum into human erythrocytes. These studies suggest that different eukaryotic pathogens use equivalent targeting signals to deliver their effector proteins.
News and Views: Plant pathology: Deadly special deliveries
When attacking a plant, pathogens must deliver proteins into their victim's cells. The causal agent of potato late blight uses a system that is remarkably similar to that used by the malaria parasite in red blood cells.
Nicholas J. Talbot
doi:10.1038/450041a
Letter: A translocation signal for delivery of oomycete effector proteins into host plant cells
Stephen C. Whisson, Petra C. Boevink, Lucy Moleleki, Anna O. Avrova, Juan G. Morales, Eleanor M. Gilroy, Miles R. Armstrong, Severine Grouffaud, Pieter van West, Sean Chapman, Ingo Hein, Ian K. Toth, Leighton Pritchard & Paul R. J. Birch
doi:10.1038/nature06203
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