This family consists of several plant wound-induced protein sequences related to WI12 from Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (Swiss:Q9XES3). Wounding, methyl jasmonate, and pathogen infection is known to induce local WI12 expression. WI12 expression is also thought to be developmentally controlled in the placenta and developing seeds. WI12 preferentially accumulates in the cell wall and it has been suggested that it plays a role in the reinforcement of cell wall composition after wounding and during plant development [1]. This family seems partly related to the NTF2-like superfamily.

1: Environmental and developmental regulation of the wound-induced cell wall protein WI12 in the halophyte ice plant. Yen SK, Chung MC, Chen PC, Yen HE; Plant Physiol 2001;127:517-528. PMID:11598226