PNH — Brachypodium distachyon

Summary

BdPNH (BRADI_1G54977V3) on chromosome 1 of Brachypodium distachyon encodes a protein with Piwi/Argonaute-like domains, including PAZ and RNaseH-like folds, and is annotated with diverse molecular functions such as siRNA and miRNA binding, histone ubiquitin ligase and deubiquitinase activities, and DNA-binding transcription activator activity. The gene is associated with miRNA and long siRNA processing, gene silencing by miRNA-directed mRNA cleavage, regulation of cell fate specification, somatic stem cell population maintenance, and acropetal auxin transport. It has been linked to traits including leaf shattering, inflorescence and flower development, lignin biosynthesis, photosynthetic ability, root phototropism, and responses to UV-A and UV-B light. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to shoot apical meristem initiation, leaf polarity, drought stress response, antiviral immunity, meiosis, and grain yield.