Nucleotide sequences and polypeptides encoded thereby useful for modifying plant characteristics

A transgenic plant transformed with an exogenous nucleic acid molecule, wherein the exogenous nucleic acid molecule comprises:

• a) a first nucleic acid having a regulatory sequence capable of causing transcription in a plant;
• and
• b) a second nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that exhibits at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7;
• wherein said first and second nucleic acids are operably linked,
• wherein said second nucleic acid is heterologous to said first nucleic acid, and
• wherein said second nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide is overexpressed in the transgenic plant;
• and
• wherein the transgenic plant exhibits increased water use efficiency as compared to a control plant of the same species lacking said exogenous nucleic acid molecule.