Effector-associated domains (EADs) are predicted to function as adaptor domains mediating protein-protein interactions. The EADs show a characteristic architectural pattern. One copy is always fused, typically to the N- or C-terminus, of a core component of a biological conflict system; examples include VMAP, iSTAND, or GAP1. Further copies of the same EAD are fused to either effector or signal-transducing domains, or additional EADs. EAD pairs are frequently observed together on the genome in conserved gene neighborhoods, but can also be severed from such neighborhoods and located in distant regions, indicating EAD-EAD protein domain coupling attenuates collinear transcription requirements.

1: Highly regulated, diversifying NTP-dependent biological conflict systems with implications for the emergence of multicellularity. Kaur G, Burroughs AM, Iyer LM, Aravind L; Elife. 2020; [Epub ahead of print] PMID:32101166