AUG8 belongs to the plant QWRF motif-containing protein family, which also includes microtubule-associated protein ENDOSPERM DEFECTIVE 1 [1, 2] and SNOWY COTYLEDON 3 [3]. AUG8 binds the microtubule plus-end and participates in the reorientation of microtubules in hypocotyls (the stem of a germinating seedling) [4,5].

1: ENDOSPERM DEFECTIVE1 Is a Novel Microtubule-Associated Protein Essential for Seed Development in Arabidopsis. Pignocchi C, Minns GE, Nesi N, Koumproglou R, Kitsios G, Benning C, Lloyd CW, Doonan JH, Hills MJ; Plant Cell. 2009;21:90-105. PMID:19151224

2: Endosperm cellularization defines an important developmental transition for embryo development. Hehenberger E, Kradolfer D, Kohler C; Development. 2012;139:2031-2039. PMID:22535409

3: The cytoskeleton and the peroxisomal-targeted snowy cotyledon3 protein are required for chloroplast development in Arabidopsis. Albrecht V, Simkova K, Carrie C, Delannoy E, Giraud E, Whelan J, Small ID, Apel K, Badger MR, Pogson BJ; Plant Cell. 2010;22:3423-3438. PMID:20978221

4: Arabidopsis AUGMIN subunit8 is a microtubule plus-end binding protein that promotes microtubule reorientation in hypocotyls. Cao L, Wang L, Zheng M, Cao H, Ding L, Zhang X, Fu Y; Plant Cell. 2013;25:2187-2201. PMID:23735294

5: AUGMIN subunit8 participates in microtubule reorientation in Arabidopsis hypocotyls. Farquharson KL; Plant Cell. 2013;25:1913. PMID:23749846