The fungus Stagonospora nodorum causes necrosis in wheat by secreting
effector protein SnTox3 which interacts with proteins set by dominant
susceptibility genes. Scientists, led by Peter S. Solomon from The
Australian National University, have discovered the mechanism of this
effector through a susceptible wheat cultivar.

SnTox3 strongly induced classical host defense pathways. The ability of
wheat leaves to photosynthesize was also lost. SnTox3 induced enzymes
involved in primary metabolism and compounds related to plant defense. The
protein re-programmed metabolism and brought out a host cell death response
to continue the pathogen's necrotrophic infection cycle.

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