AGO1 — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT1G48410, known as AGO1 (ARGONAUTE 1) in Arabidopsis thaliana, encodes a protein containing Piwi, PAZ, and Argonaute domains, and exhibits RNA endonuclease activity, siRNA binding, and dsRNA binding. AGO1 is associated with siRNA-mediated post-transcriptional gene silencing, miRNA activity, and RNA interference, and is associated with viral resistance, susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea, and resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. It localizes to cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein granules and is linked to stem cell development, shoot apical meristem development, and ground tissue patterning. The gene is associated with numerous traits including leaf morphology, floral organ number, fruit length, plant dry weight, photosynthetic ability, lignin biosynthesis, and responses to UV-A light and aphids. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to fruit yield, leaf shape, and developmental timing.