DCL4 — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT5G20320 (DCL4) in Arabidopsis thaliana encodes a Dicer-like 4 protein, a ribonuclease III family member with domains including PAZ, dsRBD, and a DEAD/DEAH-box helicase, and exhibits ribonuclease III activity, dsRNA binding, and helicase activity. DCL4 is associated with siRNA-mediated post-transcriptional gene silencing, long siRNA processing, and pre-miRNA processing, and is linked to antiviral silencing and resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. It has been connected to diverse traits including leaf morphology, floral organ development, vegetative vigor, viral disease response, and sulfur sensitivity. DCL4 localizes to cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein granules, nuclear speckles, and the nucleolus, and is associated with energy homeostasis, pigment accumulation, and regulation of seed maturation. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to virus resistance and drought tolerance.