Regulation of proteinaceous effector expression in phytopathogenic fungi

PLoS Pathog. 2017 Apr 20;13(4):e1006241. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006241. eCollection 2017 Apr.

Abstract

Effectors are molecules used by microbial pathogens to facilitate infection via effector-triggered susceptibility or tissue necrosis in their host. Much research has been focussed on the identification and elucidating the function of fungal effectors during plant pathogenesis. By comparison, knowledge of how phytopathogenic fungi regulate the expression of effector genes has been lagging. Several recent studies have illustrated the role of various transcription factors, chromosome-based control, effector epistasis, and mobilisation of endosomes within the fungal hyphae in regulating effector expression and virulence on the host plant. Improved knowledge of effector regulation is likely to assist in improving novel crop protection strategies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Fungi / pathogenicity*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology*
  • Plants / microbiology*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Transcription Factors

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Curtin University (http://www.curtin.edu.au/) and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (https://grdc.com.au/) under grant designation CUR00023. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.