A Plant Pathogen Type III Effector Protein Subverts Translational Regulation to Boost Host Polyamine Levels (Cell Host & Microbe)

Plant pathogen transcription-activator-like effectors (TALEs) activate host genes to promote disease. Wu et al. identify a 17-bp sequence upstream of arginine decarboxylase (ADC) genes that is targeted by TALE-like Brg11 from Ralstonia solanacearum. Brg11 induces 5´-truncated ADC transcripts that subvert translational control and lead to inhibition of potentially competing pathogens.