Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) from the genus Xanthomonas are proteins with the remarkable ability to directly bind the promoters of genes in the plant host to induce their expression, which often helps bacterial colonization. Metaphorically, TALEs act as spies that infiltrate the plant disguised as high-ranking civilians (transcription factors) to trick the plant into activating weak points that allow an invasion. Current knowledge of how TALEs operate allows researchers to predict their activity (counterespionage) and exploit their function, engineering them to do our bidding (a Manchurian agent). This has been possible thanks particularly to the discovery of their DNA binding mechanism, which obeys specific amino acid-DNA correspondences (the TALE code). Here, we review the history of how researchers discovered the way these proteins work and what has changed in the ten years since the discovery of the code. Recommended music for reading this review can be found in the Supplemental Material.

中文翻译：

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十年解码：TAL效应器研究历史中的间谍和黑客。

Xanthomonas属的转录激活因子样效应物（TALE）是具有显着能力的蛋白质，具有直接结合植物宿主中基因启动子以诱导其表达的能力，这通常有助于细菌定植。隐喻地讲，TALE充当间谍，渗透到伪装成高级平民（转录因子）的植物中，诱使植物激活弱点，从而允许入侵。目前有关TALE运作方式的知识使研究人员能够预测其活动（反间谍活动）并利用其功能，对它们进行工程设计以进行招标（一名满州特工）。特别是由于发现了它们的DNA结合机制，这遵循了特定的氨基酸与DNA的对应关系（TALE代码），因此这才成为可能。这里，我们回顾了研究人员如何发现这些蛋白质的工作方式以及自发现该密码以来的十年中发生了什么变化的历史。可以在补充材料中找到推荐的用于阅读此评论的音乐。