A defensin from tomato with dual function in defense and development.

Defensins are antimicrobial peptides that are part of the innate immune system, contributing to the first line of defense against invading pathogens. Defensins and defensin-like peptides are functionally diverse, disrupting microbial membranes and acting as ligands for cellular recognition and signaling. Here we show that the tomato defensin DEF2 is expressed during early flower development.