Belongs to a large gene family, called CLE for CLAVATA3/ESR-related, encoding small peptides with conserved carboxyl termini. The C-terminal 12 amino acid sequence of CLE44 is identical to that of a dodeca peptide (TDIF, tracheary element differentiation inhibitory factor) isolated from Arabidopsis and functions as a suppressor of plant stem cell differentiation. TDIF sequence is also identical to the C-terminal 12 amino acids of CLE41 (At3g24770). The protein is expressed in the vascular system and is involved in axillary bud formation.
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