A Phytophthora effector protein promotes symplastic cell‐to‐cell trafficking by physical interaction with plasmodesmata‐localised callose synthases

What is it about?

Plant pathogens deploy so-called effector proteins into host cells to promote disease. Here, we show that an effector protein of the plant pathogen Phytophthora brassicae targets a group of enzymes that is responsible for the control of plasmodesmata which serve as channels between plant cells. The host plant and the pathogen seem to struggle for control of cell-to-cell conductivity. The host plant tries upon infection to reduce whereas the described pathogen effector aims to enlarge plasmodesmal openings.

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