AIN1 — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT1G54490, also known as AIN1, EIN5, or XRN4, encodes a 5'-3' exoribonuclease belonging to the Xrn2/3/4 family, with confirmed 5'-3' RNA exonuclease activity, nucleic acid and mRNA binding, and zinc binding. In Arabidopsis, this gene is associated with stress responses, including heat stress tolerance and viral defense, as well as circadian rhythm, nematode resistance, and root attractiveness to soybean cyst nematode. It is linked to mRNA degradation, RNA interference, small RNA turnover, and processes such as nuclear RNA surveillance, no-go decay, and negative regulation of posttranscriptional gene silencing. The protein localizes to P-bodies, stress granules, the cytosol, and the nucleus. Associations also include drought recovery, ethylene sensitivity, seed dormancy, leaf senescence, lateral root length, and abscisic acid sensitivity. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to embryo lethality and developmental defects.