Protein architecture integrates structural conservation and functional diversification in Phytophthora RxLR effectors.

RxLR effectors in Phytophthora integrate conserved protein architecture with sequence and functional diversification, enabling intracellular virulence while host defenses diversify.

• Why it matters: Host defenses evolve rapidly, yet conserved virulence proteins persist; the gap is how structural stability and interaction diversity can coexist within RxLR effectors.
• What they did: This Review synthesizes comparative genomics, structural biology, and functional studies, focusing on how folded domains, repeats, intrinsically disordered regions, short linear motifs, and genomic context shape RxLR evolution.
• The result: The integrated evidence supports a model where coordinated architectural and genomic-context changes drive RxLR diversification while retaining structural features needed for function.

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