Modification of Phytohormone Response by a Peptide Encoded by ENOD40 of Legumes and a Nonlegume

The gene ENOD40 is expressed during early stages of legume nodule development. A homolog was isolated from tobacco, which, as does ENOD40 from legumes, encodes an oligopeptide of about 10 amino acids. In tobacco protoplasts, these peptides change the response to auxin at concentrations as low as 10 − 12 to 10 − 16 M. The peptides encoded by ENOD40 appear to act as plant growth regulators. Sequence alignment of full ENDO40 gene sequences from soybean, pea, alfalfa, and tocacco plants.