Balancing selection at the tomato RCR3 Guardee gene family maintains variation in strength of pathogen defense.

ABSTRACT: Coevolution between hosts and pathogens is thought to occur between interacting molecules of both species. This results in the maintenance of genetic diversity at pathogen antigens (or so-called effectors) and host resistance genes such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in mammals or resistance (R) genes in plants. In plant-pathogen interactions, the current paradigm posits that a specific defense response is activated upon recognition of pathogen effectors via interaction with their corresponding R proteins. According to the "Guard-Hypothesis," R proteins (the "guards") can sense modification of target molecules in the host (the "guardees") by pathogen effectors and subsequently trigger the defense response. Multiple studies have reported high genetic diversity at R genes main

SUBMITTER: Horger AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3400550 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature