AGO4 — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT2G27040, known as AGO4 or ARGONAUTE 4 in Arabidopsis thaliana, encodes a member of the Argonaute protein family characterized by PAZ, Piwi, and Mid domains, with RNA endonuclease activity, DNA-directed RNA polymerase activity, and chromatin binding. AGO4 is associated with heterochromatin organization and posttranscriptional gene silencing. It localizes to RNA Polymerase IV and V complexes, Cajal bodies, and nucleoli. The gene has been connected to shoot meristem activity, DNA methylation of NB-LRR-encoding genes, seed viability and size, auxin content, root morphology, disease tolerance, salt tolerance, hypoxia tolerance, and virus resistance including geminivirus resistance. Additional associations include megasporocyte development, secondary growth, spindle organization, and chromatin decompaction. Related genes in other species link the family to disease resistance.