whereas the longer proteins (PINs 5, 8) are found almost exclusively by the plasma membrane.

The protein PIN8 significantly influences the development of lateral roots in a plant. When a nonfunctional mutant of the protein, pin8, was inserted into a plasmid, the lateral roots of Arabidopsis thaliana had a decrease in root density. It was shown that this mutant had no lingering effects on the development of the primary root. When further investigated, it was discovered that the pin8 mutant was significant