A significant point in ABP's history occurred around 1985, when the protein was able to be successfully purified from the maize and genetically cloned.

Numerous test were done that involved the difficult task of regulating the amounts of ABP in plants, however despite these challenges, important discoveries were made.

It was also found that the interaction between ABP and the tobacco plant supported the idea that Auxin Binding Protein is involved with auxin-responsive potassium currents.

[2][3] Although, it's suggested and theorized that conformational changes to the protein, through binding with auxin, leads to the secretion of ABP to the plasma membrane as the sequence Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu becomes masked.

[9][5] Auxin Binding Protein has been known to play an important role in the development of leaves in plants in terms of cell growth and leaf structure.

Instead SPK1 interacts with an inactive ROP, affecting processes that involve the stabilization of actin and endocytosis in roots.

If the protein is inactivated, it affects the expression/transcription of specific genes called Aux/IAA, which are managed by the SCFTIR1/AFB system which is a critical pathway in plant hormone signaling.

Furthermore, ABP acts as a negative regulator, allowing Aux/IAA to be more stable and repress any unusual effects that the SCFTIR1/AFB system may cause.