Mimics host plant CLE extracellular signal peptides that regulate cell fate. May play a role in the differentiation or division of feeding cells (syncytia) induced in plant roots during infection. Present in secretory granules within the dorsal esophageal gland secretory cell and in the dorsal gland ampulla (collecting reservoir) at the base of the nematode stylet. Secreted into host root cells via the nematode stylet to transform the recipient cells into enlarged multinucleate feeding cells called giant-cells or syncytia. Secreted to the host apoplasm from its cytoplasm via a plant secretory pathway (By similarity). Highly expressed exclusively within the dorsal esophageal gland cell during syncytium formation in host plants. Strongly up-regulated during root colonization, from the onset of syncytium formation by parasitic second-stage juveniles (pJ2) through the J3?J4 molts of sedentary life stages that become adult females. Belongs to the CLV3/ESR signal peptide family.