CAF — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT1G01040, also known as CAF, CARPEL FACTORY, DICER-LIKE 1, EMB60, and SUS1, encodes a Dicer-like protein 1 in Arabidopsis thaliana. This protein possesses ribonuclease III, helicase, and dsRNA binding activities, along with domains including RNase_III, PAZ, and Dicer_dimerisation. The gene is associated with small RNA biogenesis, heterochromatin formation, embryo development, and female fertility. It has been linked to traits such as adult leaf and floral organ morphology, plastochron, vegetative vigor, leaf margin and vein morphology, stem length, glucose and cellulose content, viral disease response, heterosis, and herbicide sensitivity. The gene is also connected to processes including miRNA and lncRNA transcription, pre-miRNA processing, gene silencing, seed maturation regulation, and suspensor development. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to virus resistance, fruit sweetness, drought tolerance, and sugar content.